Past Episodes

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and is only intended for a U.S. audience. EMD Serono is the healthcare business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the United States and Canada. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're exploring what the invisible symptoms of MS are, and how to best empower people living with MS to talk about them with their healthcare team. Professor Klaus Schmierer is a Professor of Neurology at the Blizard Institute, Queen Mary's Unive...

Cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis, affecting more than half of the people living with MS. While cognitive issues like changes in memory, difficulty maintaining attention, slower information processing speed and executive function may not be among the most disabling symptoms of MS, they may be among the most disconcerting symptoms. Whether it's your short-term memory, the ability to find your way to a familiar destination that you've gone to hundreds of times, or yo...

A growing number of people living with MS are turning to cannabis for symptom management. But which MS symptoms have responded to being treated with cannabis? Where should someone buy medical cannabis? And is using medical cannabis even legal? Dr. Michelle Cameron returns to the podcast to discuss the risks and benefits of using cannabis for symptom management. Dr. Cameron is a neurologist and physical therapist, as well as a professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science U...

Chris Holland had a successful career working as a paralegal when he was diagnosed with MS in 2004. And, while everyone reacts differently to being diagnosed with MS, no one could have predicted what happened next, as Chris lost everything battling demons he never imagined he would ever face. But it would be a mistake betting against Chris Holland's resilience. Bouncing back, Chris decided to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a chef. Today, Chris is a three-time Food Network Chopped champio...

According to the CDC, 36 million falls are reported each year, resulting in 3 million adults being transported to the Emergency Room and 32,000 adults dying from their falls. Studies have shown that, in any six-month period, more than 50% of the people living with MS fall at least once, and 30% fall multiple times. As falls at home are common, occupational therapist Tracy Carrasco joins me to share tips and strategies for making your home safe and accessible. We're also sharing a research roun...

MS is misdiagnosed too often, which leaves some people who don't have MS receiving expensive disease-modifying therapy that they don't need, while leaving other people who do have MS still not receiving treatment with a disease-modifying therapy that will slow disability progression and preserve their quality of life longer. My guest, Dr. Andrew Solomon, is the lead author of a paper published by a team of international experts that provides updated guidance for healthcare professionals on clin...

More than 70,000 U.S. veterans are living with MS. That's why the only federal funding specifically earmarked for MS research comes from the U.S. Department of Defense. It's why the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has established the Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence. And it's why, in 2019, the National MS Society established a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This week, we're saluting the men and women of our armed services, and we're highlighting ...

Rachel Horne is a journalist who was diagnosed with MS in 2009. Since then, Rachel has developed a first-hand understanding of the knowledge gaps that remain when it comes to understanding the impact of MS on women's health and the impact of women's health issues on MS. As Rachel reviewed MS research, she also observed that when it came to acknowledging outstanding MS research, it was rare that a female researcher was singled out to receive recognition for their work. This year, Rachel took act...

With more than 9,000 MS researchers and clinicians in attendance, the 2023 combined ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting in Milan was the largest MS research conference in the world. During the meeting, I had an opportunity to talk with some of the best and brightest minds in MS research and clinical practice. This is your invitation to listen in on my ECTRIMS EXTRA conversation with Dr. Robert Motl. Dr. Motl is a professor in the department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, and a professor in the department o...

With more than 9,000 MS researchers and clinicians in attendance, the 2023 combined ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting in Milan was the largest MS research conference in the world. During the meeting, I had an opportunity to talk with some of the best and brightest minds in MS research and clinical practice. This is your invitation to listen in on my ECTRIMS EXTRA conversation with Dr. Daniel Ontaneda. Dr. Ontaneda is a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute's Mellen Center for Multip...