Episode 285: MS in Kids and Teens with Dr. Brenda Banwell RealTalk MS

Between 3 and 5% of the people living with MS are diagnosed before their sixteenth birthday. In many respects, pediatric MS is just like MS in adults. But it carries with it a distinct set of what I call social complications that can feel even more challenging to navigate than MS itself.
Just think back to the awkwardness of your pre-teen and teenage years. The pressures of school, friends, and dating are a lot for any kid to contend with. And that's without having to think about living with a chronic disease like multiple sclerosis.
Joining me for what I consider to be a masterclass in pediatric MS is Dr. Brenda Banwell. Dr. Banwell is Chief of the Division of Neurology and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and one of the foremost experts on pediatric MS in the world.

We're also sharing the details of very encouraging research that sheds new light, as well as provides new evidence, about primary progressive MS, suggesting a new pathway for future treatments.
We'll tell you about Healthy Aging in MS, the new clinical and research initiative at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.
And we'll share what the latest research is telling us when it comes to answering the question, "Should you discontinue your disease-modifying therapy once you turn 60?"
We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: It's a masterclass in pediatric MS  :22
Researchers take a major step forward in understanding and potentially treating primary progressive MS  2:01
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School launches Healthy Aging in MS initiative  6:49
Is it safe to stop your disease-modifying therapy as you age? Here's what the latest research is telling us  8:58
Dr. Brenda Banwell takes us on a deep dive into pediatric-onset MS  13:05
Share this episode  37:05
Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app?  37:25

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LINKS
If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com
STUDY:  Cerebrospinal Fluid Immunoglobulins in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis are Pathogenic
https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awad031/7024973
STUDY: Discontinuation of Disease-Modifying Therapy in MS Patients Over 60 Years Old and Its Impact on Relapse Rate and Disease Progression
https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0303846723000288
RealTalk MS Episode 255: Aging with MS with Dr. John Corboy
https://realtalkms.com/255

PEDIATRIC MS RESOURCES:
National MS Society Information and Resources on Pediatric MS
https://nationalmssociety.org/pediatricms
Oscar the MS Monkey In-Person Camp and Retreats for Kids with MS and Their Families
https://mroscarmonkey.org
Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers
https://usnpmsc.org
iConquer MS Kids & Teens
https://kidsandteens.iconquerms.org/kidsandteens
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