GLP-1s, Weight and Exercise in MS

Maintaining a healthy weight may be particularly important in multiple sclerosis, as excess fat tissue can promote inflammation and contribute to other health conditions that may complicate MS. GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro have transformed weight management, but could their benefits extend beyond weight loss? We explore emerging evidence that these medications may reduce inflammation, protect nerve cells, and possibly promote myelin repair, as well as clinical trials investigating their potential impact on MS progression.

Exercise can also do much more than build muscle. We explore how targeted movement may harness neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and find new pathways around areas damaged by MS. Practical strategies are shared for improving fatigue, spasticity, core strength, balance, and mobility, even for people with significant disability.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Barry Singer MD, Director of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews:

Olaf Stuve MD PhD

Olaf Stuve MD PhD is Professor of Neurology and Head of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Section at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Chief of Neurology at the VA North Texas Health Care System in Dallas. He is an internationally recognized MS researcher whose work focuses on inflammation and developing new approaches to treating multiple sclerosis. Dr. Stuve has served as principal investigator for numerous clinical trials and leads a research laboratory at UT Southwestern investigating immune mechanisms in MS. He has published more than 300 research articles, reviews, editorials, and book chapters.

Trevor Wicken MS is the founder of The MS Gym, a global online exercise and movement community for people living with MS. He holds a master’s degree in exercise science with a focus on biomechanics and has spent more than two decades helping people with neurological conditions improve strength, balance, mobility, and everyday function. His approach combines exercise with neurologically focused movement strategies designed to harness neuroplasticity and help people work toward meaningful improvements in function. In The MS Gym, he provides exercise programs and education specifically designed for the challenges faced by people living with multiple sclerosis.