Episode 416: The Updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS with Dr. Andrew Solomon

Since 2001, clinicians have relied on the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria as the gold standard for diagnosing someone with multiple sclerosis. As science continues to add to our understanding of MS, the McDonald Criteria have been updated in 2005, 2010, 2017, and most recently in 2024. This latest iteration of the McDonald criteria will be published in September, and today, Dr. Andrew Solomon is giving us a preview of what these changes are, what they mean, and how they're going to improve the process of diagnosing someone with MS. We'll also share results of a study that show MS may actually start 15 years before someone experiences their first MS symptom. We'll tell you about a study that shows a decline in the number of people with MS who are progressing to secondary progressive MS. We'll give you all the details so you can participate in the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative with the FDA. And we'll remind you that Burgers to Beat MS Day is just two days away! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Updated criteria for diagnosing MS :22 Study results show that MS actually starts many years before the first symptom 1:21 Study shows a decline in the number of people progressing to secondary progressive MS 7:40 A unique opportunity for you to impact future treatments and share your experience of living with MS with the FDA 9:51 We're just 2 days away from Burgers to Beat MS Day! 13:06 Dr. Andrew Solomon shares a preview of the updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS 14:40 Share this episode 26:20 Coming next week 26:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/416 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: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 STUDY: Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2837128 STUDY: Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset (PLAIN ENGLISH VERSION) https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2025/08/05/healthcare-use-before-multiple-sclerosis-symptom-onset-explained STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis From Onset to Secondary Progression: A 30-Year Italian Register Study https://researchgate.net/publication/392714813_Multiple_sclerosis_from_onset_to_secondary_progression_a_30-year_Italian_register_study DONATE: Burgers To Beat MS https://burgerstobeatms.ca 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 416 Guest: Dr. Andrew Solomon Privacy Policy