Briefly in English
Finnish Neuro Society looks after the interests of people with MS and rare neurological diseases as well as their families.
Both MS and many of the rare neurological diseases usually break out at the age of 20–50 years. There is no curing treatment for these diseases, but the quality of life of most of patients can be improved by medication, rehabilitation, exercise and peer support.
Apart from the patients themselves, the family and friends are affected by the neurological disease. The Finnish Neuro Society aims at offering the people with MS and rare neurological disease as well as their families the best possible support for a good life. The Society provides, among other things, guidance and information in a new life situation. The rehabilitation and accommodation services of the Society are available at different stages of the disease.
Neuro Society aims at promoting the research in neurological diseases, as well as the nursing and rehabilitation and looking after the social benefits of people suffering from such diseases. Neuro Society provides information and publications to serve the people with MS and rare neurological diseases, and their families, as well as e.g. professionals and students in public health care.
What is MS?
MS or multiple sclerosis is the best known of the diseases covered by the activities of the Neuro Society. About 12,000 people in Finland suffer from the disease. The immune defence of a person with MS functions incorrectly and causes damage to the cerebral and spinal nerves. The symptoms and progress of MS differ from one person to another. The disease may progress rapidly and cause difficulty of movements, or it may be almost symptom-free.
Typical symptoms of multiple sclerosis include vision disturbances, muscular weakness, symptoms of the sense of touch and fatigue. In most cases MS progresses in waves, so that there are both worse and symptomless periods. The cause of MS is not known, but genetic and environmental factors are believed to affect the outbreak of the disease.
- MS International Federation: About MS (msif.org)
Who is rare?
The activities of the Finnish Neuro Society cover dozens of different diagnoses, including the rare neurological diseases, such as spinocerebellar ataxies, syringomyelia, hereditary spastic parapareses, polyradiculites, Fabry disease and mitochondrial diseases. A total of about 6,000 people are suffering from these diseases. According to the European definition, a disease in Finland is rare if less than 2,800 people are affected. The diseases represented by the Neuro Society are even more rare. The disease categories may only include a few dozen or hundred people. The symptoms and causes of the diseases are varied, and some of the rare diseases run in the family. The more rare the disease, the more difficult it is to find expert information and peer support.
- EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe: What is a rare disease? (eurordis.org)
How to join as a member?
People with MS or rare neurological disease, their families or persons and societies supporting the work can join as members. The 25 member associations of the Neuro Society have in all more than 10,000 members. The member associations provide peer support to the patients and their families and bring chapter activities closer.
Join the Society now! As a membership benefit, you will receive the Avain magazine that comes out six times per year. By joining you will also give your support to the activities of the Neuro Society and its member associations. The membership fee varies depending on the association and type of membership.
- You can join the Society at www.neuroliitto.fi/liity.
Make a donation
Collection permit: RA/2020/1444. The permit is valid from 1 January 2021.
The donations can be paid to the following bank account: FI88 5710 0420 7349 15 (IBAN), OKOYFIHH (BIC). You may also donate by telephoning 0600 9 2622. The price of a call is EUR 10.10 + local network charge.
Donations to the Finnish Neuro Society will always be used to support the activities for the benefit of the patients and their families. The proceeds of the collection will be used, in particular, to produce and share information on the diseases represented by the association, their treatment and rehabilitation, and their impact on the lives of patients. Proceeds from the collection can also be used to provide guidance and counseling services to people with MS or rare neurological disease and their families about diseases, their treatment and rehabilitation and their impact on the lives of patients.