FUMS 117 - Mind, Mood, and Memory in Multiple Sclerosis w/ Dr. Anthony Feinstein

MS is often described as an invisible disability. But as the disease progresses, the focus - of patients as well as medical professionals - can shift to more visible, physical symptoms, like mobility issues.

However, because the majority of people with MS are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s, the psychological and cognitive effects can all too often go untreated. And these symptoms are just as common as the outward ones. In fact, as you'll hear, these may be even more common, with 50% of all people with MS having at least one clinically significant episode of depression. 

My guest today is Dr. Anthony Feinstein. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, where he runs an MS neuropsychiatry clinic and research team. His MS research has focused on MRI-visualized brain changes associated with depression, the development of fully-automated cognitive tests for people with MS, and much more. He is also the author of Mind, Mood, and Memory: The Neurobehavioral Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis. 

Dr. Feinstein is here to discuss the hidden symptoms of MS that add significantly to the disability associated with the disease, including cognition and mood. He even offers some tips for us all that can help keep our brains active and stimulated!

We all know that regular exercise is essential for living well with MS. So don't forget to give your brain a workout too! 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How an MRI machine led Dr. Feinstein to specialize in Multiple Sclerosis
• What Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT) is and why it is so effective for people with MS
• How CBT compares with medication as a way to deal with MS-related mood disorders
• Ways that cognitive decline can be monitored, and the three types of exercise that you should be doing to stimulate your brain!
• Dr. Feinstein answers questions from the FUMS community

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums117/