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

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 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/285 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! 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 Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200 Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 285 Guest: Dr. Brenda Banwell Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy