Episode 417: Music and the Body with Emmy Award-Winning Composer Jeff Beal

If you've watched the critically acclaimed series, House of Cards, on Netflix, or the OCD detective series, Monk, on the USA Network, you've already listened to some of five-time Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal's work.

This week, Jeff joins me to discuss his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS. We're also sharing all the details about the free event taking place at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California, on September 1, when Jeff joins conductor Leonard Slatkin and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a free concert featuring three of Jeff's works, including a world premiere!

We're also explaining a newly introduced AI-based model of MS that replaces the MS subtypes (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive) with a continuum that tracks four different states.

We'll tell you about a study that identified specific gut bacteria that may determine whether an individual is susceptible to MS.

And we'll share the details of a study that identified the first genetic marker that can accurately predict how someone will respond to a disease-modifying therapy.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal discusses his work and his MS journey :22

An AI-based model of MS 1:18

A study identifies specific gut bacteria that may be linked to MS susceptibility 4:49

A study identifies the first genetic marker for accurately predicting an individual's response to MS treatment 6:29

Composer Jeff Beal discusses his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS 9:57

Share this episode 30:36

Coming next week 30:56

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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

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

ATTEND: Music + The Body
https://realtalkms.com/musicandthebody

An AI-Driven Reclassification of Multiple Sclerosis Progression
https://nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03901-6

STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis and Gut Microbiota: Lachnospiraceae From the Ileum of MS Twins Trigger MS-Like Disease in Germfree Transgenic Mice -- An Unbiased Functional Study
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2419689122

PARTICIPATE: International MS Microbiome Study
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/participate-in-research-studies/other-studies/international-ms-microbiome

STUDY: HLA-A*03:01 As Predictive Genetic Biomarker for Glatiramer Acetate Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00317-2/fulltext

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RealTalk MS Episode 417
Guest: Jeff Beal

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