Past Podcast Episodes

Welcome back to the third and final part of our coverage of the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum. This week's episode bridges the gap between groundbreaking clinical research and the nuanced reality of living with MS every day.

First, we'll dive into the “before” and “after” of a diagnosis, starting with Dr. Helen Tremlett's insights into the MS prodrome—those subtle, early signs that appear years before typical MS symptoms. We'll also talk with Dr. Tremlett about how other health conditions can predict long-term outcomes in sometimes surprising ways.

The ACTRIMS Forum

Dr. Ilana Katz Sand shares her latest research on the connection between diet, MRI findings, and clinical disability. Dr. Katz Sand also shares her list of foods you want to include and those you need to exclude when you choose the MIND diet. And Dr. Katz Sand explains the complementary roles of lifestyle choices and disease-modifying therapies in creating the most effective MS treatment plan.

Finally, we ground these scientific advancements in the lived experience as Kathy Smith joins us to challenge the clinical labels we use to describe MS, questioning whether terms like “relapsing-remitting” or “secondary-progressive” truly capture the day-to-day reality of her two-decade journey with the disease.

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

This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 3) :22

Dr. Helen Tremlett discusses the prodromal phase of MS, which comorbidities are predictive of better or worse patient outcomes, and the role of the environment in pediatric MS 1:19

Dr. Ilana Katz Sand shares her latest research on the impact of diet on MS 10:44

As someone who has lived with MS for two decades, Kathy Smith takes on the question of whether the current labels like ‘relapsing-remitting' or ‘secondary-progressive' actually describe what life is like on a day-to-day basis for someone living with MS 22:35

Share this episode 34:29

Next week's episode 34:49

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RealTalk MS Episode 443
Guests: Dr. Helen Tremlett, Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, and Kathy Smith

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Welcome back to Part Two of our coverage of the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum. This week, we shift our focus to emerging therapies and clinical insights that are re-shaping the future of MS care. From the latest information on stem cell transplantation to evolving treatment strategies to the labels used to describe MS, we're breaking down the complex science into the conversations that matter most to the MS community.

The ACTRIMS Forum

Joining me to discuss one of the most significant presentations from the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum is Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, who opened the event with the Kenneth P. Johnson Memorial Lecture.

Dr. Cohen's lecture, “AHSCT: Current Status and Remaining Questions,” tackled a topic of massive interest to both clinicians and the MS community: Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT). Often described as “resetting” the immune system, AHSCT is a complex and life-changing procedure that continues to evolve.

In our conversation, Dr. Cohen delves deeper into his lecture, discussing transplant efficacy, the best candidates for AHSCT, the optimal time to consider AHSCT, and how people living with MS may qualify to participate in a clinical trial comparing the benefits of AHSCT with those of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies.

Joining me for a deep dive into the future of MS care is Dr. Daniel Ontaneda. Our wide-ranging conversation explores the cutting edge of clinical practice and research, including the “early vs aggressive” treatment debate, how incorporating new imaging biomarkers will lead to faster, more reliable, and more accurate MS diagnoses, and whether the current disease classifications still serve the best interests of patient care.

While MS research conferences like the ACTRIMS Forum are never short on world-class expert opinions and groundbreaking data, one perspective is often missing from the room: the voice of someone living with the disease.

That's why I was so glad to have Kristine Werner Ozug, a valued member of the RealTalk MS team, on the ground with me. As someone living with MS, Kristine brings a vital lens to these scientific sessions. After the final gavel fell, I sat down with her to get her “patient-first” perspective on the research that mattered most to her and what she's taking away from this year's Forum.

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

This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 2) :22

Dr. Jeffrey Cohen takes us on a deep-dive into Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT) 1:23

Dr. Daniel Ontaneda discusses the ways that today's MS research will impact tomorrow's MS care 10:44

Kristine Werner Ozug shares her “patient-first” perspective on the research that mattered most to her and what she's taking away from the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum 28:17

Share this episode 43:31

Next week's episode 43:54