MS-Perspektive - The Multiple Sclerosis Podcast

What can your mouth tell us about multiple sclerosis? In this episode of the MS-Perspektive Podcast, Professor Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam , immunologist and microbiome researcher at the University of Iowa, shares fascinating insights into the oral microbiome and multiple sclerosis . While most MS research focuses on the gut, this conversation highlights why oral bacteria and their metabolites may also...

In this episode, Prof. Dr. Heinz Wiendl discusses why disease progression can occur even when relapses are well controlled and MRI scans appear stable. The conversation focuses on how subtle changes can develop over time, how they can be recognized earlier, and what this means for people living with MS. This episode was supported by Sanofi S.A. and is an English translation of the original German...

In this very personal episode, I open the doors behind the microphone and share what truly shaped 2025 – a year of endurance, motherhood, advocacy work, sleep deprivation, and two weekly podcast shows in German and English. I also share what will change in 2026 – with a focus on sleep, gentle growth, an English talk format, books, and fast-track MS knowledge for the community. https://ms-perspekti...

This episode was supported by Sanofi S.A. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Klarissa Hanja Stürner about chronic smoldering inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) —a slow, often hidden process that may drive disease progression even when relapses and MRI activity appear stable. Dr. Stürner explains how chronic inflammation behind the blood–brain barrier differs from acute relapse-related inflamma...

Living with multiple sclerosis means making daily decisions that go far beyond medication. Mental health, lifestyle, rehabilitation, empowerment, and access to care all play a crucial role in how well people live with MS. In this special episode from ECTRIMS 2025 , I bring together insights from six international experts who presented new research on well-being, mental health, lifestyle interventi...

In this episode, wheelchair padel athlete and clinical research expert Kristen Paskins shares how she rebuilt her confidence after suddenly losing her mobility in 2022. Traveling alone with a wheelchair for the first time — to attend the EUPATI training in Madrid — became a turning point in her journey toward independence, advocacy, and self-discovery. You can read through the interview on my blog...

In this episode of MS-Perspektive International , host Nele von Horsten talks with Dr. Riley Bove , Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF, about how menopause impacts MS . They explore hormonal changes in perimenopause, why menopausal and MS symptoms overlap so strongly and what this means for diagnosis and daily life. You can read through the cleaned transcript of the interview on my blog: htt...

Maybe you already use your phone, a wearable, or one of the many MS-related apps to track your symptoms or support your daily routines. But when it comes to rehabilitation, the real question is: which digital tools actually help — and which ones are just noise? In this ECTRIMS session, researchers from around the world explored how technology can enhance rehabilitation for people with MS. Their me...

👉 For a full deep-dive into this conversation, including all details, quotes, links and context, please visit the accompanying blog article on https://ms-perspektive.com/141-kenya. MS in Kenya is likely severely underdiagnosed . The Atlas of MS lists only around 200 known cases in a country of almost 58 million people — yet access to neurologists, MRI scans and specialist care is extremely limite...

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of ECTRIMS 2025 and explore seven fascinating studies that show how multiple sclerosis (MS) care is evolving — from safety monitoring and infection risks to data-driven, personalized treatment decisions. You'll learn about: How often late-onset neutropenia occurs in people on Rituximab and who's most at risk. What factors increase the chance of serious...

🧠 Episode Summary The new 2024 McDonald Criteria for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) mark an important milestone: doctors can now confirm MS earlier and with greater confidence , allowing treatment to start sooner and potentially improving long-term outcomes. In this episode, we explore what has changed since the 2017 version, why these updates matter, and how they affect people living with —...

In this episode, we explore key insights from the ECTRIMS 2025 session "Symptoms and Symptom Management" . Four young researchers share findings that go beyond MRI scans and lab data — focusing on what truly matters in daily life with MS. 🧠 Andreas Kirknæs Færk examined how symptoms cluster and evolve over time. 📊 Sean Apap Mangion  showed how patient-reported outcomes can predict disease progre...

In this episode, we dive into five innovative rehabilitation studies presented at ECTRIMS 2025. From the validation of digital assessments to family-centered care and home-based rehabilitation, these studies offer promising insights for people living with MS. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode highlights tools and approaches that can improve quality of li...

In this episode, I explore five exciting studies from ECTRIMS 2025 that reveal how cognitive training, mindfulness, and smart rehab planning can support brain function and independence in people with MS. You can read the text version here: https://ms-perspektive.com/136-cognitive-rehab Cognitive changes affect a large percentage of people with multiple sclerosis—yet they often remain invisible or...

In this insightful episode, I talk with Dr. Melika Arab Bafrani , postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) , about a topic that deserves far more attention — vaginal health and MS . MS affects not only the nervous system but also the immune balance of the whole body, including intimate areas. Dr. Bafrani explains how disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can alter...

In this solo episode from ECTRIMS 2023 , I share the highlights from the inspiring lecture by Prof. Maria Pia Amato on cognition and multiple sclerosis . Cognitive changes are common in MS and affect nearly half of all patients – from attention and memory to language and executive function. You will learn: How cognitive impairment appears across the MS spectrum (including CIS, RIS, pediatric MS, a...

Read the full blog article here: ms-perspektive.com – ECTRIMS 2025 MS Highlights ECTRIMS 2025 MS Highlights: First Insights for Patients ECTRIMS is the world's largest MS conference, and in 2025 it takes place in Barcelona. Thousands of researchers and clinicians share the newest findings on multiple sclerosis. In this episode, we look at the first highlights from the press releases: Early biomark...

Access to MS treatments worldwide remains highly unequal. While research and innovation are making great strides, many people with multiple sclerosis are not benefiting from these advances. In this episode, Anne Helme, Head of Research and Access at the MS International Federation (MSIF) , talks about the global challenges of treatment access, MSIF's work to address them, and the hopes for a faire...

👉 Read the full blog article here: https://ms-perspektive.com/131-joke-soetart In this inspiring interview, Belgian midwife and patient expert Joke Soetaert shares how her 2019 MS diagnosis became a catalyst for growth, advocacy, and community. She talks about mindset, research participation, empowering young people with MS, and why patient voices belong at every table. Overview of topics Joke's...

What does it mean to live with MS abroad? In this inspiring interview, I speak with Robert Joyce , MS patient, blogger at A 30 Minute Life , and strong advocate for patient involvement in research. Robert shares his journey from diagnosis at 23 to moving from Ireland to Spain for health reasons. We talk about the impact of climate, differences between Spanish and Irish healthcare, coping with chro...

Neural stem cells may calm brain inflammation and enable myelin repair in progressive MS. Safety looks promising; phase-2 planning is underway. You can read the interview extract on my blog: https://ms-perspektive.com/129-luca-peruzzotti-jametti Progressive MS needs therapies that work inside the brain. In this episode, Dr. Luca Peruzzotti Jametti explains why remyelination is so hard in humans, h...

In this episode, I share insights from a new study published in Nature Medicine : " AI-driven reclassification of multiple sclerosis progression. " 🌐 Blog: https://ms-perspektive.com/128-ai-ms-reclassification An international team of researchers analyzed data from more than 8,000 patients , 118,000 visits , and 35,000 MRI scans . With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), they discovered tha...

In this episode, I'm offering a behind-the-scenes look at a recent research project I conducted based on a listener survey among the German-speaking audience of the MS-Perspektive Podcast. While the detailed results are currently under review for publication, I share why I launched the study, what questions I was most curious about, and what might come next. The survey was part of my master's thes...

In this episode, we meet Bruno Amaral , a digital strategist, teacher, and MS patient from Lisbon. After his diagnosis, Bruno not only underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) to manage his progression—but also created GregoryAI , a digital tool designed to help MS patients find relevant research and clinical trials without needing deep tech knowledge. Bruno's story is...

📖 Read the full blog interview here 👉 https://ms-perspektive.com/125-barbara-willekens 🎙️ What's this episode about? In episode 125, neurologist Prof. Barbara Willekens shares powerful insights on how to protect and improve your brain health while living with MS . We talk about the importance of early treatment, how lifestyle changes and digital tools can help, and why shared decision-making emp...