RealTalk MS

Latest Episodes:

Episode 479: From MSToronto 2026 with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Last week, about 8,000 MS researchers and clinicians arrived in Toronto, Canada, for MSToronto 2026, the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS, and the largest MS research conference in the world.

As the meeting adjourned, the National MS Society's Chief Research and Medical Affairs Officer, Dr. Bruce Bebo, joined me to share some of the presentations and announcements that he found particularly important.

My RealTalk MS teammate, Kristine Werner Ozug, also joined me in Toronto. Drawing on her own journey with MS, Kristine brings invaluable personal insight to the table. This week, Kristine shares the research and critical conversations that she's taking away from MS Toronto 2026.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: MSToronto 2026 :22

Dr. Bruce Bebo shares the presentations and announcements that he found particularly important at MS Toronto 2026 1:11

Kristine Werner Ozug shares her take-aways from MS Toronto 2026 13:54

Share this episode 43:37

Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 43:57

Next Week: More from MS Toronto 2026! 44:43

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/479

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 479 Guest: Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug

Episode 478: From MSToronto 2026 Patient Community Day with Professor Peter Feys and Karen Jacoby Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to a special episode of RealTalk MS and The ECTRIMS Podcast! MS Toronto 2026 concluded with the event we were most looking forward to -- Patient Community Day -- where some of the top MS experts in the world broke down the research presented over the course of the 3-day meeting and answered questions from people living with MS in easy-to-understand English.

In this special episode, Professor Peter Feys, an MS rehabilitation expert from Hasselt University in Belgium, and Karen Jacoby, who lives with MS and serves as an MSCanada Ambassador, stepped off the stage at Patient Community Day to share their perspectives on MSToronto 2026.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: MSToronto 2026 Patient Community Day :25

Just after stepping off stage at Patient Community Day, Professor Peter Feys and Karen Jacoby share their thoughts on MSToronto 2026 1:21

Share this episode 19:57

Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 20:17

Don't miss Thursday's Special Episode! 20:59

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/478

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 478 Guest: Professor Peter Feys and Karen Jacoby

Episode 477: One Year After CAR T-Cell Therapy with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Jan Janisch-Hanzlik was the first MS patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy as part of a clinical trial. We met Jan last year, in episode 424 of RealTalk MS, when she gave us a first-hand report on how she was responding to this treatment.

This week, Jan is back with an update on how she's responding to CAR T-cell therapy one year later.

We're just two weeks away from the U.S. midterm elections. We're sharing some resources that will help you get ready to vote.

And we'll remind you that MSToronto 2026 begins tomorrow, and you still have time to register for Patient Community Day.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: An update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy :22

Some homework to help get you ready to vote in the U.S. midterm elections 2:44

Jan Janisch-Hanzlik shares an update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy to treat her MS 6:37

Share this episode 28:11

Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 28:31

Next week 29:12

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/477

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR T-Cell Therapy and MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik https://realtalkms.com/424

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 477 Guest: Jan Janisch-Hanzlik

Episode 476: MS in the Workplace with Dana Foote Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

What happens when you're diagnosed with a chronic, unpredictable condition just as your career is taking off? That's exactly what happened to my guest, Dana Foote.

This week, Dana joins us to share her journey from hiding her MS diagnosis as a young auditor at one of the largest accounting organizations in the world to becoming National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations and a leader in the MS community.

We'll also update you on the status of a disease-modifying therapy that has been submitted to the FDA for review as a potential treatment for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS.

We're sharing details of the National MS Society's recent $8.9 million investment to support 15 cutting-edge research projects.

We'll tell you about a study that shows physical therapy can produce confirmed disability improvement for people living with MS.

And we'll remind you that with MSToronto 2026 just one week away, you can still register for Patient Community Day.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Managing MS in a demanding, high-stakes work environment :22

The FDA grants fenebrutinib Priority Review status 1:22

The National MS Society announced $8.9 million in new research investments 4:53

A study shows ongoing physical therapy can lead to confirmed disability improvement 9:12

We're one week away from MSToronto 2026. Will you be part of Patient Community Day? 13:40

Dana Foote shares her corporate journey from a young auditor diagnosed with MS to National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations at KPMG US 15:40

Share this episode 33:20

Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 33:36

Next week 34:21

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/476

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

RealTalk MS Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh https://realtalkms.com/461

STUDY: Physiotherapy and Confirmed Disability Improvement in People with Multiple Sclerosis https://msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(26)00949-1/fulltext

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 476 Guest: Dana Foote

Episode 475: New Tools and Strategies for Managing MS-Related Cognitive Changes with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Whether it's walking into a room and blanking on why you're there, struggling to pull up a word that's right on the tip of your tongue, or losing track of daily tasks, cognitive fatigue and brain fog can turn simple routines into exhausting hurdles.

What makes cognitive changes particularly challenging is their invisibility. They don't show up on a routine check-in like mobility issues do. Family members might misread them as distraction. Employers might see them as disengagement. And all too often, clinicians don't have immediate, actionable tools to offer beyond standard advice.

This week, we're talking with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch, a research neuropsychologist at the Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Gromisch's work focuses on moving beyond the diagnostic label to give people real, evidence-based compensatory tools.

We're discussing the science of prospective memory—remembering to perform planned actions in the future—and exploring how smart digital tools, strategic daily systems, and patient empowerment can help you take control and maintain your independence.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: New tools and strategies for managing and even improving MS-related cognitive changes :22

We're less than 3 weeks away from MS Toronto 2026 Patient Community Day! Have you registered yet? 1:23

Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch shares a preview of new digital tools to measure and manage MS-related cogntive changes 2:19

Share this episode 28:39

Download the RealTalk MS app 28:58

Next week 29:42

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/475

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 475 Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch

Episode 474: The House That MS Built with Sarah Timmerman Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Most people don't think about home accessibility until mobility changes force the conversation. But what if you decide to take control of the unknown and design your living space for whatever the future might bring?

My guest, Sarah Timmerman, explains how she took total control of her future by designing and building what she calls The House That MS Built—a home engineered from the foundation up to future-proof her independence through smart, universal design and relentless self-advocacy.

We'll also tell you about a research team that identified 4 biomarkers that, together, can help a neurologist understand whether a stem cell therapy is working for their patient weeks before that patient returns to the clinic.

We're sharing results of a trial that answered the question, "Can diet actually change what's happening at the cellular level inside the brain?" You'll want to hear these results!

And we'll tell you about a research team that has developed a derivative of an HIV medication that restored mobility and vision to mice with the mouse version of MS.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: The House that MS Built :22

Have you downloaded the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS or Android device? 1:16

Researchers at Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York identify 4 biomarkers that can help physicians track the response to stem cell therapy in people living with progressive MS 2:01

New research identifies how gut health can lead to nerve cell damage in MS 4:49

Repurposed HIV medication restores lost function in the mouse model of MS 8:48

Sarah Timmerman shares her story and explains how relentless self-advocacy became the foundation for the House that MS Built 12:55

Share this episode 24:09

Next week 24:29

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/474

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

STUDY: Effect of Intrathecal Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Neural Progenitors on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13585449

STUDY: High-Fat Diet Promotes T-Cell Mediated Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12974-026-04049-x

STUDY: The Nucleoside Analog Kamuvudine-9 Shows Protective and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis https://science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aei2870

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 474 Guest: Sarah Timmerman

Episode 473: The National MS Society -- A CEO Briefing with Dr. Tim Coetzee Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

RealTalk MS is celebrating our ninth anniversary, and we're marking the milestone with a special guest! Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, returns to the show for a candid, forward-looking conversation about why today represents one of the most promising moments for advancing MS research and transforming clinical care.

We're taking a hard look at the game-changers on the horizon: what it will take to shorten the diagnostic journey from years down to mere hours, why it's time to retire outdated disease labels in favor of true precision medicine, and the surprising science behind testing GLP-1s for neuroprotection.

From unlocking massive clinical data sets to fighting for research dollars on Capitol Hill, Tim pulls back the curtain on the Society's strategic plan to end MS once and for all. Pop in your earbuds and join us in celebrating nine years of community and conversation!

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Dr. Tim Coetzee briefs us on the National MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care :18

Download the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS and Android smartphone and tablet 1:56

We gave the RealTalk MS website a glow-up! 2:37

Check your congressional representative's grade in the Congressional Healthcare Access Report Card 3:07

Dr. Tim Coetzee discusses the MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care 3:46

Share this episode 37:04

Next week 37:24

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/473

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 473 Guest: Dr. Tim Coetzee

Episode 472: ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Patient Community Day Preview with Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

We are less than 40 days away from MSToronto2026—the joint ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS Scientific Congress. While the congress brings together the world's leading MS researchers and clinicians, Patient Community Day —in person and online—is designed specifically for people affected by multiple sclerosis. This week, Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond join me to preview what to expect from Patient Community Day 2026.

With less than 50 days until the midterm elections in the United States, the National MS Society is hosting a webinar you can't afford to miss, titled MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care. We'll tell you how to register (And we'll remind you why you should!).

A 22-country survey of over 17,000 people with MS revealed that the invisible symptoms of MS remain critically unaddressed. We're sharing the details of this landmark survey.

We're sharing early trial results of a precision red blood cell therapy designed to halt myelin attacks without shutting down the immune system.

We'll tell you about the German research team that's repurposing a common, low-cost medication into a skin patch designed to jumpstart natural remyelination.

And we'll share a study showing how simple, short voice recordings can predict long-term cognitive changes and brain volume loss in people living with MS.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: A preview of Patient Community Day 2026 :22

The National MS Society is hosting a webinar you shouldn't miss 1:32

Results of a landmark survey reveal critical unmet needs among people living with MS 5:27

A new approach to preventing MS inflammatory attacks while keeping the rest of the immune system intact 8:27

Could a skin patch successfully promote myelin repair? 11:42

Can analyzing regular speech predict future brain atrophy in people with MS? 14:34

Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond give us a preview of Patient Community Day 2026 18:53

Share this episode 33:01

Next week 33:20

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/472

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

WEBINAR: Advocacy In Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://nmss.quorum.us/event/37051

STUDY: Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Survey: Patient-Reported Data on the Prevalence, Burden, and Management of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Europe https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261480514

STUDY: Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Peptide-Coupled Red Blood Cells Induces Antigen-Specific T Regulatory Cells https://pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2614908123

STUDY: Automated Speech Analysis Reveals Progressive Linguistic Changes Associated With Subsequent Gray Matter Loss in Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585261477213

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 472 Guest: Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves

Episode 471: Navigating an MS Relapse with Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Relapses make life with MS unpredictable. Understanding what they are, why they happen, and how best to manage them can make a relapse less scary and easier to navigate. This week, Dr. Gabriela Karolidis, a board-certified neurologist and neuroimmunologist at Thomas Jefferson University, joins us for a deep dive into MS relapses.

The MS International Federation has just updated the Atlas of MS, showing more than 3 million people living with MS worldwide. We're sharing the details behind the new numbers.

We'll also share a study showing how wearable activity trackers add a dimension of real-world data that provides a more complete picture of an individual's mobility throughout the day.

We'll tell you about research on Vitamin D supplements that fails to determine whether they are beneficial for people living with MS.

We're sharing study results showing that social and socioeconomic factors clearly affect cognitive function among people living with MS.

We're also sharing results from a nationwide study in Denmark that focused on whether high-efficacy DMTs affect progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA).

And we'll tell you about a fall prevention study that you may be eligible to participate in (compensation provided!).

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Navigating a relapse :22

Global MS prevalence surpasses 3 million :57

A study shows that wearable activity trackers help create a more complete picture of an individual's mobility 6:38

Researchers attempt to determine whether Vitamin D supplements help people living with MS 10:14

A study provides evidence that social and socioeconomic factors impact cognitive function in people living with MS 13:58

A nationwide study in Denmark focuses on whether high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies have an impact on progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) 17:20

You may be eligible to participate in a fall prevention study (compensation is provided) 21:11

Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis takes us on a deep dive into MS relapses 22:58

Share this episode 37:52

Next week 38:12

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/471

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: Global Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis Surpasses 3 Million: 2024 Update of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261479954

RESOURCE: Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS https://msif.org/atlas

STUDY: Diurnal Step Count Patterns in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261475910

STUDY: Vitamin D Supplementation and Its Effect on Relapse Frequency and MRI Activity in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brb3.71692

STUDY: Social and Socioeconomic Factors and Cognitive Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221103482600475X

STUDY: Effectiveness of Escalation Versus Early High-Efficacy Therapies on Progression Independent of Relapse Activity In Multiple Sclerosis: A Danish Nationwide Study https://neurologyopen.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001690

PARTICIPATE: University of Illinois Disability, Participation, and Quality of Life Research Laboratory Fall Prevention Study Email: DPQoL-FallPrev@illinois.edu

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 471 Guest: Dr. Gabriela Karolidis

Episode 470: 42 Marathons in 42 Days with Benji Wilkins Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Wise men and women remind us that life is a marathon, and not a sprint. Joining us this week is Benji Wilkins. Benji is a magician in the U.K., and for 42 days this summer, his life was quite literally a marathon. In the process, Benji raised money to help his mom, who lives with MS, and he raised awareness of MS across the U.K. and around the world.

We're also sharing results of a study that focused on gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people living with MS.

We'll tell you how you can participate in the MOMENT-MS study and help researchers develop a smartphone app that takes a novel approach to managing MS-related pain.

And we're reminding you to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. It's your opportunity to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world!

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Running a marathon a day (when you're not a runner) for MS :22

Cleveland Clinic researchers look at gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people with MS 1:02

University of Washington researchers are developing an app to manage MS pain using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. And you can help them! 6:53

Benji Wilkins describes what it's like to run 42 marathons in 42 days on behalf of his mom, who lives with MS 6:53

Share this episode 29:01

Next week 29:20

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/470

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: Feasibility and Outcomes of Gait Training With a Powered Exoskeleton in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40465831

SUPPORT: Marathons For Mum Web: https://marathonsformum.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjitwilkins

PARTICIPATE: MOMENT-MS Study Web: https://uwmsrehabwell.org/moment-ms Email: momentms@uw.edu Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TA5-9dy7s

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 470 Guest: Benji Wilkins