May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the symptoms and risk factors of stroke. The latter is so important as most strokes are thought to be preventable with lifelong control of risk factors, especially high blood pressure.
Director's Messages
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, chosen because it is the birth month of James Parkinson, who first identified the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease more than 200 years ago. Since then, we have made considerable progress towards understanding what causes the motor symptoms we most associate with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
At NINDS, we are committed to supporting researchers across career stages whose work advances our mission to further our understanding of the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce suffering due to neurological disorders. An important part of this support lies in providing accessible and up-to-date web information about how we fund research.
Although SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was initially identified as a respiratory virus, its effects on the nervous system have been profound.
For over ten years, NINDS has participated in Brain Awareness Week, taking place in 2023 from March 13 – 19, as a weeklong celebration of both the complexity and mystery of the brain. At NINDS, we strive to gain a deeper understanding of the brain and nervous system to develop effective therapies for all people with neurological disorders and stroke.
Rare and ultra-rare diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Today, roughly 10,000 known rare and ultra-rare diseases affect more than 30 million Americans and their families. The incidence of each disease may be rare, but collectively, rare diseases represent a unique public health challenge. Further, rare diseases disproportionately affect the nervous system, and almost 90% of rare disorders can occur in children. For years, the NIH and NINDS have supported important research efforts and partnerships that aim to better understand, diagnose, and treat rare diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases progressively damage specific cells and connections in the brain and/or spinal cord, exacting an enormous toll on the health of people living with these diseases, as well as their families and caregivers. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a particularly devastating and complex neurodegenerative disease that affects the neurons that control voluntary muscle movement.
Each new year offers a clean slate, with an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned as we set our eyes on new goals and possibilities. In 2022, we experienced a third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and also saw society slowly returning back to “normal” as most restrictions lifted in the United States and across the world. For many who suffer with neurological disorders, challenges associated with the pandemic persist. Yet, I have seen our research community demonstrate resilience each and every day to pursue scientific questions that offer hope to those who lack effective treatments.
November is National Native American Heritage Month (NAHM), a time for us to honor the Native people of this land and their historical legacy and ongoing accomplishments. This month of recognition began at the turn of the century as one day to celebrate the significant contributions that the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States, and it has now evolved and grown well beyond that day.
For the first time in three years, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is holding its annual meeting in person, convening many thousands of neuroscientists in San Diego, California, from November 12-16, 2022. Across the country and throughout world, most COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, and society is trying to get back to “normal,” after three years in which the pandemic has affected every corner of our lives.