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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.

When multiple sclerosis enters a family, it doesn’t just change the life of the person diagnosed. It reshapes the daily routines, roles, and futures of the people who love them. A spouse steps into new responsibilities, a child learns to help in ways their peers never will, and an entire household begins to adapt. These changes occur quietly, and often without recognition. Caregiving is one of the most essential pillars of the MS journey, and also one of the most invisible.

This episode explores the caregiver experience from the inside out. We discuss why the uncertainty of MS can be one of the hardest parts of caregiving, how stepping into a care partner role can unexpectedly foster maturity, closeness, and personal growth, and why a caregiver’s own well-being is inseparable from that of the person they support. The conversation also dives into practical tools for building resilience including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, the READY for MS program, and the everyday strategies one husband relies on to stay connected to his wife as they navigate life with MS together.

This episode is sponsored by TG therapeutics.

Jameson Holloman MD, neurologist at The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews:

Kenneth Pakenham PhD

Kenneth Pakenham PhD is an Emeritus Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia, and a global leader in resilience and caregiving research. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, he has authored over 200 publications and pioneered the application of positive psychology and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to chronic illness. His work focuses on how people grow through health adversity, the experience of young carers he has termed “invisible patients,” and resilience interventions such as the READY for MS program now used across the UK and Europe.

Dan Shaul

Dan Shaul brings a deeply personal perspective as a care partner to his wife, Kim, who was diagnosed with MS three years into more than three decades of marriage. A U.S. Air Force veteran and former Missouri state representative, he has served as state director of the Missouri Grocers Association since 2006. Since Kim’s diagnosis he has become active in the MS community as a board member of the St. Louis charity MS Bright Spots of Hope, and he speaks candidly about his experience as a caregiver.

For most of us, work is woven into daily life and identity. It provides income, but also purpose, community, and independence. So when multiple sclerosis enters the picture, one of the first and most consequential questions people face is what it means for their career. Symptoms like fatigue, cognitive changes, and mobility issues can prompt difficult decisions: Should I stay in my job? Request accommodations? Plan for disability benefits down the road?

In this episode, we hear from two experts who help people navigate these complex decisions with employers and benefit agencies every day. The conversation covers how to stay in the workforce longer, when and how to disclose a diagnosis, the workplace accommodations people actually use most, and how to plan ahead for a disability claim including FMLA, private disability insurance, and Social Security Disability.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Dr. Jamie Holloman, neurologist at the MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews two leading experts:

Philip Rumrill PhD, CRC

Phillip Rumrill PhD, CRC is one of the most prolific and influential researchers in the field of employment and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Rumrill is the Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education at Michigan State University, where his work focuses on chronic illness and emerging disabilities, reasonable accommodations and assistive technology, workplace discrimination, and self-advocacy strategies for people with disabilities. A certified rehabilitation counselor who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas, he has devoted roughly 35 years to studying the psychosocial and vocational dimensions of MS.

Jamie R. Hall Esq

Jamie R. Hall is an attorney whose entire practice is devoted to disability claims. For 17 years, he has represented clients in short-term disability, long-term disability, FMLA, and Social Security Disability matters, working on a nationwide basis with a clientele that is roughly half MS patients. A graduate of Villanova University School of Law, where he served as an associate editor of the Law Review, Mr. Hall has represented disability claimants before administrative law judges, the Social Security Appeals Council, and the federal courts across two dozen states.

Links to employment resources mentioned in the episode:

Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation website:

https://dese.mo.gov/adult-learning-rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation

National MS Society Employment resources:

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/resources/financial-planning/employment-with-ms

Job Accommodation Network:

https://askjan.org/resources/Job-Accommodation-Network.cfm

American with Disabilities (ADA) Regional Centers:

https://adata.org/find-your-region

MRI scans can reveal far more than just “white spots.” New imaging techniques are uncovering hidden inflammation, silent disease activity, and smoldering lesions that may continue damaging the brain even when someone feels stable and routine MRI scans appear unchanged. This episode explores how MRI is evolving from a diagnostic tool into a window into the underlying biology of multiple sclerosis.

We discuss why spinal cord imaging can sometimes reveal disease missed in the brain, how the “central vein sign” may help prevent MS misdiagnosis, and why brain shrinkage remains difficult to measure reliably in individuals living with multiple sclerosis. The conversation also dives into some of the most exciting frontiers in MS imaging including myelin repair, functional MRI, and how artificial intelligence could dramatically improve the speed and precision of MRI scans in the future.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

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

Anthony Traboulsee MD

Anthony Traboulsee MD is a Professor of Neurology and MS Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He serves as Co-Director MS Clinical Trials Research Group and Director of Multiple Sclerosis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Group. His research focuses on clinical trial design, the development of practice guidelines for the use of MRI in the management of MS, establishing advanced MRI imaging outcomes, and investigating new therapies for MS and related disorders.

Frederik Barkhof MD PhD

Frederik Barkhof MD PhD is Professor of Neuroradiology at Amsterdam UMC and University College London and is internationally recognized as one of the pioneers of MRI research in multiple sclerosis.  He helped develop the influential Barkhof Criteria, which advanced the use of MRI in early MS diagnosis and became part of modern diagnostic criteria worldwide. Dr. Barkhof has received numerous international honors for his contributions to MS research, including the John Dystel Prize from the National MS Society.

Cognitive changes are a common part of living with multiple sclerosis, but they can be confusing and frustrating. Many people feel like their memory is slipping, when in reality the challenge is often with accessing information—especially in the moment. Forgetting why you walked into a room or struggling to find the right word in conversation are very real experiences in MS, and they’re more about how the brain processes and retrieves information than a loss of intelligence or knowledge. New insights are helping us better understand why this happens, including the role of inflammation and how today’s treatments may be helping keep cognition more stable over time.

In this episode, Dr. James Sumowski breaks down what’s happening in the brain, including why word-finding problems are so common and what “working memory” really means in everyday life. Speech-language pathologist Dr. Marissa Barrera then shares practical, easy-to-use strategies to support memory and communication—from simple ways to make information more memorable, to talking around a missing word, and creating routines that reduce mental overload. Together, they offer both clarity and actionable tools to help you think more clearly, communicate more confidently, and navigate cognitive challenges day to day.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

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

Marissa A. Barrera, PhD, MSCS, CCC-SLP

Marissa Barrera PhD, MSCS, CCC-SLP is a medical speech-language pathologist and multiple sclerosis certified specialist with expertise in evaluating and treating neurological conditions. She serves as Assistant Dean of Health Sciences at the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University, and her research focuses on cognition, fatigue, and anomia in people with MS. With nearly 20 years of experience, Dr. Barrera has served on multiple MS Clinical Advisory Councils, is distinguished faculty for the Consortium of MS Centers, and has received the MS Rehabilitation Fellowship, the National MS Society’s Healthcare Professional Champion Award, and the CMSC ARTY Award for excellence in MS rehabilitation.

James Sumowski PhD

James F. Sumowski PhD is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and clinical neuropsychologist at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis. He earned his PhD from Columbia University and is an internationally recognized expert on cognition in MS, including pioneering the concept of cognitive “reserve” as a modifier of disease impact. His NIH-funded research focuses on identifying modifiable factors underlying memory decline in MS to inform the development of effective, evidence-based interventions.

Many individuals living with multiple sclerosis are interested in whether vitamins, supplements, and nutrition strategies can influence disease activity, symptoms, and long-term outcomes. With so much information circulating online, it can be difficult to separate meaningful evidence from hopeful theory. Patients deserve clarity, balance, and up-to-date scientific insight.

In this episode of MS Living Well podcast, we explore the latest research on dietary fatty acids, vitamin D supplementation, and the broader role of nutrition in MS care. The discussion includes findings from both large prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled clinical trials, highlighting what appears promising, what remains uncertain, and what still requires further study.

Topics covered include potential roles for plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, differences between fish-derived and plant-derived fatty acids, vitamin D dosing considerations, and key caution points when interpreting supplement research. The conversation offers a science-forward perspective that empowers patients and clinicians to make informed choices alongside proven MS therapies.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Dr. Jamie Holloman, neurologist at the MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews two leading experts in this area:

Marianna Cortese MD PhD

Marianna Cortese MD PhD is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  She earned her medical degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany and completed her Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the University of Bergen in Norway.  Dr. Cortese is an MS researcher and epidemiologist focused on nutrition who has published extensively on dietary factors, biomarkers, and disease outcomes.

Prof. Éric Thouvenot

Professor Éric Thouvenot is Head of the Neurology Department at Nîmes University Hospital in France and researcher at the Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle. He served as principal investigator of the D-Lay MS trial evaluating high-dose vitamin D in early MS.

CAR-T therapy, short for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is already transforming treatment for blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia and is now being tested in early trials for multiple sclerosis. In this approach, a person’s own T cells (or sometimes donor T cells) are collected and reengineered in the lab with a special “chimeric” receptor on their surface. Once infused back into the body, these “designer” T cells can specifically hunt down B cells, including those hiding in the brain and spinal cord that may drive progressive MS. This is a key difference since current B-cell depleting antibody treatments don’t reach effectively into the central nervous system.

Like any powerful therapy, CAR-T is not without risks. Side effects can include serious infections, cytokine release syndrome (fever, chills, body aches), and even neurological symptoms like confusion or seizures. Still, the early results in MS patients are remarkable, bringing fresh hope for those with progressive disease. Beyond MS, CAR-T is being explored across autoimmune neurological diseases from myasthenia gravis to stiff person syndrome, opening a promising new frontier in care.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Jeffrey Dunn MD

Jeffrey Dunn MD is the Lily Sarafan Director of Neuroimmunology and serves as Clinical Professor and Chief of Neuroimmunology in the Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford University. He has served as principal investigator in more than 30 clinical research trials authored numerous scientific publications, and is a multiple-time recipient of neurology residency teaching awards. Dr. Dunn earned his medical degree from Temple University and completed his neurology residency at the University of Washington Medical Center.

Amanda Piquet MD

Amanda Piquet MD is a Professor of Neurology and Céline Dion Foundation Endowed Chair at the University of Colorado, where she directs the Autoimmune Neurology Program. She received her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, completed neurology residency training at Harvard, and pursued fellowship training in Autoimmune Neurology and Neuroimmunology at the University of Utah. Dr. Piquet’s research centers on autoimmune neurological disorders, with particular focus on autoimmune encephalitis and stiff person syndrome.

The quest to repair the damage caused by multiple sclerosis is gaining momentum, with scientists working to restore lost function and slow progression by rebuilding myelin—the protective coating of nerve cells. Within the brain and spinal cord, immature myelin-making cells called OPCs hold promise, but need the right signals to mature into oligodendrocytes and repair MS lesions. Researchers are also studying the role of microglia, the immune cells that clear debris but can turn destructive, with drugs like BTK inhibitors potentially tilting them toward repair.

Early attempts at remyelination drugs such as opicinumab and elezanumab showed promise in animals but ultimately failed in human trials, underscoring the challenge. Still, reasons for optimism are emerging: clemastine, a common antihistamine, showed signs of remyelination in optic neuritis, while PIPE-307—a compound inspired by green mamba snake venom—is in Phase 2 trials. Even novel approaches like gold nanoparticles are being studied to boost oligodendrocyte energy and repair capacity. The path is complex, but progress is accelerating—bringing remyelination therapies closer to becoming a real option for people living with MS.

Episode sponsored by TG Therapeutics

Veronique Miron PhD

Veronique Miron PhD is the John David Eaton Chair in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research at the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Barlo MS Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, and Full Professor in the Department of Immunology at The University of Toronto. Dr. Miron has undertaken research in MS for 20 years, with a focus on understanding how myelin repair is controlled and why it fails in MS. She completed her PhD at McGill University in Montreal, and an MS Canada-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine. She then launched her lab at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and in 2022, relocated with her lab to Toronto.

Robert Glanzman MD

Robert Glanzman MD is a board-certified neurologist with over 20 years of experience in neuroscience-related clinical research. Dr. Glanzman received his medical degree from Wake Forest University, completed his neurology residency at University of Michigan and completed a fellowship in diagnostic nuclear medicine/PET imaging at Duke University. Prior to joining industry in 1999, he held the position of Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at Michigan State University. After joining industry, held increasingly important roles at Pfizer, Novartis and Roche, where he was responsible for the design of the global Phase 3 development program for ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for both relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. More recently, Dr. Glanzman has held leadership positions at several biotechnology companies, and is currently Chief Medical Officer of Find Therapeutics.

Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding—and most demanding—journeys. Sleepless nights, shifting routines, and the constant question of “Am I doing this right?” are familiar to every mom and dad. But what happens when you add multiple sclerosis (MS) into the mix?

In this new episode of the MS Living Well Podcast, Dr. Jamie Holloman, MS neurologist at the MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, explores this important topic: Parenting with MS. Drawing from his own experience as both a new father and the son of a mother with MS, Dr. Holloman brings unique insight into how families can thrive in the face of chronic illness.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Expert Perspectives on Parenting and MS

Amy Sullivan, PsyD

Dr. Holloman is joined by Dr. Amy Sullivan, Clinical Health Psychologist and Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Sullivan has worked extensively with individuals and families facing MS. She shares practical strategies for managing fatigue, addressing guilt, and reframing expectations—highlighting how parenting with MS can foster deeper resilience, empathy, and meaning in family life.

Julie Stamm

Later in the episode, Dr. Holloman speaks with Julie Stamm, MS advocate and author of the children’s book Some Days: A tale of love, ice cream, and my mom’s chronic illness. Diagnosed with MS in 2007, Stamm has dedicated her career to educating and supporting families navigating chronic disease. She discusses the importance of open communication with children, the lessons in empathy that often emerge, and why MS should never be the reason someone decides against becoming a parent.

Why This Conversation Matters

From coping strategies during relapses, to age-appropriate ways of discussing MS with children, this episode offers valuable takeaways for both newly diagnosed patients and long-time parents. The discussion underscores a hopeful reality: while MS brings challenges, it also has the power to strengthen family bonds and instill resilience across generations.

Tune In

Whether you’re living with MS and raising children now, or considering starting a family in the future, this episode will leave you encouraged and empowered!

Stem cells have the extraordinary ability to transform into different types of cells and renew themselves—offering new hope in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. One of the most advanced approaches—autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT)—involves collecting a patient’s own bone marrow stem cells, using chemotherapy to wipe out their faulty immune system, and then reinfusing the stem cells to help rebuild it. A more aggressive “myeloablative” approach can effectively halt relapses and new MRI activity but carries serious risks, including life-threatening infections. A gentler “immunoablative” method reduces these risks but allows for a return of MS activity in up to 25% of patients. AHSCT is typically reserved for younger individuals with aggressive relapsing disease and moderate or milder disability.

Mesenchymal stem cells—derived from fat, bone marrow support tissue, or dental pulp—have shown mixed results. A large international trial found no benefit when delivered intravenously, although the treatment was safe. However, a smaller study using repeated injections into the spinal fluid showed disease stabilization in most participants. New research is now exploring neural stem cells, which may help protect and repair the brain and spinal cord. A recent Phase 1 trial involving 15 people with secondary progressive MS found reduced inflammation in blood and spinal fluid markers and less brain shrinkage on MRI scans following neural stem cells given into the spinal fluid spaces of the brain. Tune in as we unpack the science, the risks, and the exciting future of stem cell therapies in MS.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Stefano Pluchino MD PhD

Stefano Pluchino MD PhD is a Clinical Professor of Regenerative Neuroimmunology and Honorary Consultant in Neurology, within the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK. He obtained his MD and PhD in Experimental Neuroscience at the University of Siena in Italy. His groundbreaking laboratory research on Regenerative Neuroimmunology has led to 250 publications in international journals.

Mark Freedman MD

Mark Freedman MD is Professor of Medicine in the field of neurology at the University of Ottawa, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit at the Ottawa Hospital, and a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Freedman holds his Masters Degree in Molecular Neurochemistry and continued his postgraduate work specializing in neurology and neuroimmunology. Dr. Freedman has published over 250 pieces, including articles, books, book chapters and abstracts. He is also the lead investigator in the Canadian Bone Marrow Transplant Study in MS and co-chair of the International Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Study Group.