Under the motto "Multiple Sclerosis - Anything goes, but just different." the "9th World MS Day" on Wednesday, May 31, around the globe puts multiple sclerosis and MS sufferers in the spotlight. In Frankfurt, a "walk-in brain" invites visitors to explore the Konstablerwache from 11 am to 7 pm. At 2 p.m., the head of the health department, Stefan Majer, will take a look inside the organ. Neurologists will offer guided tours of the brain model every hour on the hour. The German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG) Hesse Regional Association and local MS self-help groups will also be represented with an information stand at the Konstablerwache. Interested people can feel MS symptoms such as vision problems, numbness or balance disorders on the "Fühlstraße".
The "World MS Day", which was launched in 2009 and always focuses on the still incurable neurological disease multiple sclerosis and life with it on the last Wednesday in the month of May, has since been a fixed date in the calendar of the DMSG Hessen. A particularly striking and informative clearing-up action prepared the hessian MS Selbsthilfeorganisation in Frankfurt. On Wednesday, 31 May, a walk-in human brain model (2.40 meters wide and 3.60 meters long) will be set up at the Konstablerwache from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in order to illustrate the functioning and the consequences of disease patterns such as MS on the organ to interested persons by means of three-dimensional representations. Frankfurt's head of health Stefan Majer has taken on the patronage for this campaign. At 2 p.m., the head of department will take a look at the brain model and have Prof. Dr. Uta Meyding-Lamadé (Medical Advisory Board DMSG Hessen and Chief Physician of Neurology at the Northwest Hospital Frankfurt) explain how it works. Representatives of the board and the managing director of DMSG Hessen, Bernd Crusius, will also be on hand.
Other than that, visitors will have the opportunity to be guided through the brain model by a neurologist every hour on the hour, at 11am, 12pm, 12.45pm (!), 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. But the organ model is also accessible at any other time. Inside, a screen is installed showing informational films about the central nervous system and the disease multiple sclerosis.
At the information booth, the DMSG Hessen and the Frankfurt MS counseling center
will present their work, the diverse offers and the Hesse-wide network of the MS self-help organization, as well as local MS self-help groups from 11 am to 7 pm. At the "Fühlstraße", which is set up there, interested people can experience different symptoms of MS such as visual difficulties, feelings of deafness or balance disorders. The day of action is sponsored by the AOK Hessen.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that can lead to disturbances in movement, sensory perception and other extensive impairments. In Germany, around 200,000 people suffer from MS, up to 8,000 of them in Hesse. Despite intensive research, the cause of the disease is not known. It is assumed that various factors must coincide to trigger the disease. What is certain is that the body's own immune system plays a role.
The DMSG in Hesse
The DMSG Hessen e.V. is a self-help organization and interest group for MS patients in Hesse, was founded in 1980 and is based in Frankfurt. 20 full-time and more than 500 voluntary employees work here for about 8,000 people affected. The goal of the self-help organization is primarily the comprehensive and individual counseling of MS patients and their relatives in psychosocial, medical, professional and socio-legal issues. Other concerns of the DMSG Hessen are to advise on the organization and application of nursing services and rehabilitation, as well as to accompany MS sufferers and their relatives in all aspects of their social life and to discuss personal concerns in the counseling appointment.
