UCL Institute of Neurology

The first coordinated global initiative to highlight the proliferation of multiple sclerosis (MS) is being launched on Wednesday 27 May with more than 160 events in 51 countries in a concerted effort to "join up" thinking and awareness of the disease around the world.

This first ever World MS Day has been organised by Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF - www.msif.org) and by MS societies in 51 countries around the world.

World MS day aims to be a day of unity, strength and solidarity, where people affected by MS in homes, towns and cities across the world come together to take positive action on MS. The goal is to mobilise and expand the global MS movement by encouraging people to talk about their MS experiences, donate to support people affected by MS and to fund research, join MS organisations around the world and encourage politicians to take action.

The focus will be on the needs of people with MS, the lack of capacity to diagnose and treat MS in many countries and the urgent need for more research to help eradicate the disease.

MS is found in every country in the world, and is one of the most common neurological diseases amongst people in their 20s and 30s. It affects people often at the beginning of their working lives, when they are starting a family. MS affects at least twice as many women as men. Up to 60% of people diagnosed with MS will suffer long-term disability. So far, there is no proven cause and no cure.