National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a non-profit health organization that is based in the United States. The objective of the organization is to promote research on multiple sclerosis, educate people about the condition and advocate on any issues pertaining to the medical condition. The organization is headquartered in New York City.
The organization was founded in 1946, the health organization has worked for more than 50 years to help people lead a better life, aid those recently diagnosed to understand the condition better and to address the challenges that they face each day. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is present in more than 50 states with their network of chapters and branches.
The not-for-profit organization also funds research in the area of multiple sclerosis in order to find treatment options and therapies that can arrest the progression, prevent and cure multiple sclerosis. They facilitate educational programs that help people understand the condition better so that patients and their families can understand the manner in which they can deal with the issue. In addition to that they also deal with politicians and legislative bodies in order to champion the special requirements of people with multiple sclerosis.
The organization seeks to find issues that can impact the life of MS patients and works with the government to make changes that can impact their lives positively. Healthcare policies are pursued aggressively so that higher funds can be deployed towards multiple sclerosis research, better care of MS patients in facilities and affordable options for all.
There is a large group of activists that are part of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. These are the people who help in pursuing local policies and programs in the public and private sector. Issues with regards to accessibility, healthcare coverage, employment, transportation and long term care are dealt with by these activists.
About 25 to 30 percent of the people suffering from multiple sclerosis depend on Medicare to fund their treatment. Due to the work of this organization those who have MS and are unable to work, are entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Purpose
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has dedicated itself to anything that concerns medical condition of multiple sclerosis and the various people who suffer from it. Anything that concerns multiple sclerosis is a concern of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Whether it is providing information to patients who do not know how to manage the disease, helping caregivers understand the issues to funding medical research on the disease and advocating on laws and rules that affect MS patients, this is an organization that stands with those who have multiple sclerosis all the way.
Post the findings of the first research funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS diagnosis became far easier. Research grants were awarded to many scientists who were looking at finding cures and therapies related to multiple sclerosis. Some of the grants were awarded to Nobel Prize winner like Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini. While the former studied the immunology of multiple sclerosis, the latter described proteins that help nerve cells stay healthy.
Through relentless efforts in the scientific field there have been many aspects of the medical condition that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has helped uncover. A geographic association of the condition was apparent and it was found that MS increased as you moved northwards from the equator. The organization was also instrumental in carrying out the first trials were adrenocorticotropic hormone was given to the patients.
There are various programs that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society runs and manages in order to raise funds, increase awareness of the condition and to advocate in the area of MS. Some of the fundraising events that the organization manages include Bike MS, Walk MS, Mud Run MS, Challenge Walk and Community Events. There are also local events that the specific chapters host that include the Dinner of Champions and Women on the Move Luncheon.
History
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been around for more than 55 years now. The organization was created to help anyone with multiple sclerosis in fighting the tough battle that they are likely to face once the disease starts to progress. This disease of the nervous system can affect people of all ages and is hereditary in nature. Loss of vision, paralysis, numbness and issues with walking are some of the complications that the disease can lead to.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society was formed in 1946 to ensure that those suffering from multiple sclerosis have someone to go to with their special needs and issues. The organization therefore helps people at an individual level and a private level to meet the challenges of life.
The story behind the formation of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society goes like this. Sylvia Lawry, whose brother suffered from multiple sclerosis, put an advertisement in the classifieds in "The New York Times" to ask if anyone had come across a treatment for multiple sclerosis and if they have recovered. Instead of receiving any response with regards to the treatment option, she received a lot of letters from other people who had the same question. Lawry mobilized a group of friends and advisors and formed the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The initial intent of the organization was to promote contacts among neurologists and to raise funds that could support research in finding an answer to the MS question. The first grant that the organization received was from "The Society of the Advancement of Multiple Sclerosis Research". The grant was provided to understand the immunology of the medical condition. The grant was given to Dr. Elvin Kabat in 1947 at the Columbia University. This research showed that there were abnormal immunologic proteins in the spinal fluid of MS patients and oligoclonal bands were valuable in diagnosing multiple sclerosis.
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