The upcoming ALS/MND conference will help raise awareness for the disease

For the first time ever, the Hospital del Mar of Barcelona and the Catalan Foundation of ELA Miquel Valls are collaborating to organize a conference gaining awareness for ALS/MND. It will take place on June 21, 2019, which is the internationally recognized day for ALS/MND awareness.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Motor Neuron Disease (MND), is a highly complex and fatal neurodegenerative disease. The disease mostly affects people in their late 60s or 70s, however, no one is immune to getting it earlier. ALS/MND causes the neurons in the brain and spinal cord to stop working and die. As a result, this triggers involuntary muscle movements and extreme weakness in the body. The disease also has cognitive symptoms that include difficulty with decision-making, impaired word fluency, and a damaged memory. As the disease progresses, paralysis eventually sets in, and within 2-5 years after diagnosis, the patient usually dies. As of now, there is no cure. There are only temporary solutions that minimize, and slow down, the aggressive symptoms of ALS/MND and add more time to a patient’s life.

The goal of the upcoming conference is to build awareness for the disease, as well as to update and inform people about the latest research being done in the medical field. At the same time, techniques will be shared for managing the daily challenges that are associated with the disease, and to inform patients of the characteristics of the health system in Spain that will help them receive the best care possible.

The conference is scheduled to begin at 9 am, with a welcome talk, at the CaixaForum Barcelona. The rest of the conference is structured into two parts. The first part will include lectures related to the research presented by experts. The second part will comprise of a roundtable discussion, with an expert patient, that will emphasize the importance of the studies being carried out.

To take part in the conference email comunicacio@fundaciomiquelvalls.org as there are a limited amount of spaces for the conference. There is no price for admission.