Past Episodes

Having a job matters. Most obviously, employment provides the economic resources that people need to more easily manage every other aspect of their lives. Perhaps less obviously, we tend to define ourselves through our work. And without work, we not only face potential economic hardship, we sometimes lose that inner sense of purpose or identity...of understanding who we are. The majority of people living with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 45. And these are the years when you're of...

Cognitive issues affect a majority of people living with MS and experts often recommend a cognitive assessment as the first step in managing cognitive dysfunction. But what's that cognitive assessment all about? Patient advocate Cathy Chester has been living with MS since 1986 and she just recently underwent her own 3-hour cognitive assessment. Cathy is joining me to walk us through her experience. And if you're wondering what a cognitive assessment is all about and how it might help you, you w...

Madison Copot was diagnosed with MS about 9 years ago, just before turning 13. And when she received her diagnosis, Madison was also told that she was too young to be seen by an MS specialist. Today, Madison is a 21-year old young woman, and if you want to hear what a real-life superhero sounds like, you won't want to miss my conversation with Madison. While we're on the subject of superheroes, we'll tell you about Darkhawk, who debuted last week as the first Marvel superhero to be diagnosed wi...

The FDA has authorized a third dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. What does this mean for people living with MS? Are you eligible for a third dose now? Are you eligible in September? How will your disease-modifying therapy effect that third dose? What if you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? And who is that Regeneron monoclonal antibody cocktail for? Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me with an update on vaccines, variants, boosters, and antibodies, explaining how they all may impact people living...

Imagine being able to see improvement in cognition, motor function, and self-esteem, while enhancing neurological functions like walking and speech without taking another pill or even breaking a sweat. Joining me to talk about the evidence-based benefits that people living with MS can gain through music and art therapy are Dr. Meera Rastogi, Veronica DeNoma, and Betsy Hartman. We're also talking about the shocking and deeply concerning outcome of a study used to validate the reliability of a n...

If you've ever wondered about whether MS advocacy makes a real difference, please consider that last year alone, MS Activists helped to bring about these changes: $10 Million increase in funding for the Congressionally-Directed MS Research Program $3 Billion increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health Sustained funding for the CDC's National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (studying MS is one of the first 2 pilot projects for this new program) Passage of the CREATES...

Just a few weeks ago, life sciences company Abata Therapeutics came out of stealth mode, unveiling a $95 million dollar investment in a novel cell therapy to treat progressive MS. Joining me to talk about this potentially transformational treatment for progressive MS are the President and CEO of Abata Therapeutics, Samantha Singer, and Dr. Richard Ransohoff, one of the company's co-founders as well as its Chief Medical Officer. We'll also give you a sneak peek at a study that measured the impa...

Research shows that members of minority communities often experience MS differently. And by differently, we mean worse. -- more severe symptoms, shorter time to disability, and greater levels of disability. That's why ensuring greater diversity in clinical research is of urgent importance. At the same time, the conversation about putting the patient at the center of MS research has grown louder and more pronounced. Major pharmaceutical companies have gotten both of these messages and joining m...

Summertime traditionally means getting out of the house, enjoying outdoor activities, and being active. But if you're living with MS, outdoor activity and summertime temperatures can raise red flags when it comes to your day-to-day quality of life. My guest is Dr. Colin Lenington, an Occupational Therapist and Clinical Specialist at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System and we're talking about getting outside, staying safe, and keeping cool while you enjoy your summer activities. We're joining t...

In medicine, a prodrome is a set of signs or symptoms that can appear years before the major symptoms of an illness develop. Recognizing the prodromal phase of MS could mean that, one day, someone who is highly likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis could receive proactive treatment years in advance and, perhaps, never develop any MS symptoms. Dr. Helen Tremlett, a professor, and the Canada Research Chair in Neuroepidemiology and Multiple Sclerosis at the University of British Columbia,...