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You know them by their trade names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. This class of medications is known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. And while they are best known for managing diabetes and promoting weight loss, researchers are finding that these drugs are also effective in a broad range of other health conditions. So, what about MS?

Dr. Ellen Mowry

My guest this week is Dr. Ellen Mowry, the principal investigator of a clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1 drug can reduce brain inflammation and provide neuroprotection in people living with progressive MS.

We're sharing details about the discovery of a new biomarker that not only confirms an MS diagnosis but also predicts the severity of an individual's disease course in the years ahead.

We'll tell you about three studies focused on better managing some of the most common MS symptoms and funded by the International Progressive MS Alliance.

And we'll explain how Merck and the Mayo Clinic are partnering to build a first-of-its-kind drug discovery platform using AI.

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

This Week: A GLP-1 for MS? :22

I'm asking for your support: 1:31

Researchers discover biomarkers that can predict future disease course 2:13

The International Progressive MS Alliance invests $8.1 million in global studies that address the most common MS symptoms 5:44

Merck and the Mayo Clinic collaborate on AI-driven drug discovery platform 10:02

Dr. Ellen Mowry discusses the clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1 drug can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and offer neuroprotection to people with progressive MS 12:20

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Next week 30:38

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LINKS

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STUDY: Large-Scale Proteomics Across Neurological Disorders Uncovers Biomarker Panel and Targets in Multiple Sclerosis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41747728

International Progressive MS Alliance
https://progressivemsalliance.org

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RealTalk MS Episode 444
Guests: Dr. Ellen Mowry

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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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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/443