FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON January 10, 2005
Governor Romney and Mayor Menino Proclaim January as Think Neurology Now Month in Massachusetts and Boston
Campaign Media Contacts: Kathleen Brennan/Gena Henderson, 617-210-4755, kbrennan@bellpottingerusa.com, ghenderson@bellpottingerusa.com
Boston, Mass. -
Governor Mitt Romney and Mayor Thomas Menino have proclaimed January as Think Neurology Now Month in Massachusetts and Boston. Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and its Foundation, Think Neurology Now is the first effort in a public education campaign to raise awareness of neurology, the impact of neurological disorders, and the critical role of the neurologist in ensuring the best possible care and quality of life for patients. Neurology is the study of the brain and nervous system. Key events in Boston will unite area neurologists, voluntary health associations, national celebrities, local corporations, government officials, patients, and caregivers under the umbrella of neurology for the first time. Think Neurology Now will officially kick off on Wednesday, January 12 with an evening reception at the Massachusetts State House. The reception will include remarks from elected officials, members of the Academy, and special guests. The pinnacle event is the Frontiers in Neurology Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, January 22, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Hynes Convention Center. A keynote address featuring Former Congressman Tony Coelho, the principal author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will be followed by several break-out sessions highlighting various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Current research by respected neurologists in New England will also be featured. The event is free and open to the public. To reserve a place at the Town Hall Meeting in advance, visit www.ThinkNeurologyNow.org or call the Think Neurology Now toll-free number 866-770-7570. The Academy and local voluntary health associations will also host an advocacy day on Beacon Hill on Tuesday, January 25. This will mark the first time these groups have planned a coordinated effort to inform state legislators about the impact of neurological disorders. “It is important to raise awareness about neurology because neurological disorders have an astounding impact on patients, their families, and the community at large,” said Catherine M. Rydell, executive director and chief executive officer of the American Academy of Neurology. “The Think Neurology Now campaign in Boston represents our effort to realize new levels of commitment to ensure the best quality of life for people with neurological disorders.” An estimated one in six people in the United States will be affected by a neurological disorder during their lifetime. There are more than 600 known neurological disorders. The economic impact of these disorders is significant, currently estimated at $400 billion annually in the United States. Several organizations have pledged their support to the Think Neurology Now campaign, including the Alzheimer’s Association, ALS Association, American Stroke Association, American Parkinson’s Disease Association, Biogen Idec Inc. & Elan Pharmaceuticals, Epilepsy Foundation, Massachusetts Brain Injury Association, Massachusetts Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Headache Foundation, Parkinson’s Action Network, and Teva Neuroscience. Think Neurology Now is a first-of-its-kind campaign from the American Academy of Neurology and its Foundation. The results of the efforts in Boston will help shape a nationwide campaign later in 2005. For more information about Think Neurology Now events in Boston and about neurology in general, visit www.ThinkNeurologyNow.org, or call the toll-free number 866-770-7570. The Foundation works with the Academy with a mission to broaden the support for research in the neurosciences and in funding public education programs dealing with neurology and neurological disorders. The Foundation has provided millions of dollars in funding clinical research fellowships.