World MS Day 2014 Aims to Raise Awareness for the Rare Disease

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the body's central nervous system in which communication between the brain and the body is disrupted. On May 28, 2014, World MS Day aims to raise awareness for the rare neurological disorder.

A total of 2.3 million people suffer from MS worldwide, with the disease being diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 31. Twice as many women are affected as men and it's likely hundreds of thousands remain undiagnosed. There is no cure for the disease and its cause is still unknown, which is why the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) hopes to utilize World MS Day to gain attention.

Those who suffer from multiple sclerosis experience an abnormal response of the immune system. Immune cells accidentally attack myelin - the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers - and this dramatically affects communication between the brain and the body. It is a disease of the central nervous system that can be categorized as mild, moderate or severe. Severe cases often end in paralysis for parts of the body when the spinal cord is affected.

Each World MS Day focuses on a different demographic or aspect of the disease. This year's focus is "access," meaning "not just physical access, but also access to drugs, information and treatment, and the same social and economic opportunities as everyone else," according to the MSIF website. The goal is to have MS patients share their thoughts about the disease as well as access to treatment or medical care.

Previous World MS Day focuses were: young people diagnosed with MS and how they plan to deal with everyday life (2013); solving three riddles related to MS and its effect on patients to help others learn more about the disease (2012); work and MS, which focused on employers and government decision makers (2011) and (2010); and joining the global movement to end MS, which was the first ever World MS Day (2009).

The MSIF provides an atlas of MS database, which shows who is affected by MS worldwide and how we can potentially strive to help those less fortunate sufferers in developing countries. In support of World MS Day, you can get in touch with an MS organization near you or get involved with the MSIF and their efforts.

To learn more about World MS Day, visit the official website for the cause.