RealTalk MS

Past Podcast Episodes

Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove


Last week, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, best known as CMSC, hosted its annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, where we had a chance to talk with some of the world's top MS experts. We'll be sharing those conversations over the next few episodes of the podcast. Welcome to Part One of our coverage of CMSC 2026!

CMSC logo

In what has become an annual tradition at this conference, Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Research, joins me to share her impressions of the sessions and presentations that stood out to her.

I also caught up with Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove on the first day of the CMSC annual meeting, and we discussed how wearable devices and digital tools are finding their way into MS care and how they can improve the quality of care for people living with MS.

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

This Week: We're reporting from CMSC  :22

Dr. Kathy Zackowski shares the CMSC presentations that caught her eye  1:04

Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove discuss how wearable devices and digital tools are reshaping MS care  14:29

Share this episode  28:20

Next week  28:39

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/457

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

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 457
Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, Dr. Riley Bove

 

Episode 456: The First 100 Days Following An MS Diagnosis with Dr. Nancy Sicotte


May 30th is World MS Day! This year, the theme for World MS Day is “My MS Diagnosis,” and I've been thinking about what happens right after that diagnosis. After an individual hears, “You have MS.”

This week, Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to discuss the things you should know, the things you should be thinking about, and the things you should be doing in the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis.

Dr. Nancy Sicotte

Dr. Sicotte is the Chair of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and she's the past Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee.

We're also sharing results of a study that showed an exercise hormone protected neurons from inflammatory attack in a mouse model of MS.

And we're sharing encouraging news about an experimental nasal spray that's been shown to delay disability progression and improve fatigue among people with non-active secondary progressive MS.

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

This Week: World MS Day!  :22

Study reveals an exercise hormone has neuroprotective effects on a mouse model of MS    2:40

Tiziana shares evidence that Foralumab delays progression and improves fatigue in people with non-active secondary progressive MS  4:34

Dr. Nancy Sicotte looks at the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis  8:40

Share this episode  28:51

Next week  29:12

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/456

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

World MS Day Poster Maker
https://worldmsday.org/poster-maker

STUDY RESULTS: The Exercise Hormone Irisin Has Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-026-01527-7

CLINICAL TRIAL: A Study of Nasal Foralumab in Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06292923

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 456
Guest: Dr. Nancy Sicotte