World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day is on the 30th of May.
For a two-year period over 2024 and 2025, the global theme for World MS Day is “MyMSDiagnosis”, which advocates for early detection and accurate multiple sclerosis diagnoses.
MS is a chronic autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Over 33,000 Australians are living with MS, 3 out of 4 diagnosed being women.
It is incurable, though treatable, with medications and therapies to slow the progression of the disease. People living with MS experience periods of symptoms, then periods of remission where the symptoms quiet.
Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the extent of nerve fibre damage in the central nervous system. Though variable, common symptoms reported are numbness or tingling in extremities, lack of coordination, vision loss, fatigue, bowel, bladder and sexual function issues, and cognitive problems.
For World MS Day, MS Australia encourages raising awareness, supporting new research, sharing the stories of people living with MS, starting conversations, and lobbying decision makers for change and advancement.
MS Australia is launching a national campaign on the 30th of May, with the tagline “Navigating MS Together”.
To find out more, visit: www.msaustralia.org.au/world-ms-day
