Every year, May 30th is observed as “World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day.” This year, the Turkey MS Society held a press conference on Tuesday, May 27th, ahead of World MS Day. At the meeting, held with the support of Merck Turkey, MS symptoms were depicted through artificial intelligence-supported artworks themed “MSafeler.” Turkey MS Society President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melih Tütüncü and Society Board Member Prof. Dr. Serkan Demir attended the meeting as speakers.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system and typically occurring between the ages of 20-40, impacts approximately 3.5 million people globally and over 70,000 individuals in Turkey. At the press conference held as part of World MS Day to draw attention to this disease, for which public awareness is still limited, an awareness project concerning MS was also shared with the public. Within the scope of the project, the lesser-known symptoms of MS disease in society were reflected in artworks visualized using artificial intelligence technology under the “MSafeler” theme. The project, which aimed to explain these symptoms (often confused with other health problems) through the language of art, attracted great interest from participants.
While Turkey MS Society President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melih Tütüncü delivered the opening speech, the event was moderated by the other speaker, Society Board Member Prof. Dr. Serkan Demir. At the press conference, important information regarding MS diagnosis and the disease process was shared, and the importance of early diagnosis was explained. The necessity of public awareness to improve the quality of life for MS patients and the physical and psychological effects of MS on individuals were emphasized.
At the event, which highlighted the message “Pay attention to the symptoms of MS, be empowered by awareness”—developed based on the fact that an MS diagnosis is made every 5 minutes—Turkey MS Society President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melih Tütüncü said, “Multiple Sclerosis is a complex disease that disrupts communication between a person’s nervous system and body and progresses in different ways. The fact that it appears with different symptoms and severity in each individual is one of the factors that complicates diagnosis. Therefore, awareness at both the community and healthcare professional levels is very critical for the diagnosis, disease, and treatment process.”
Turkey MS Society Board Member Prof. Dr. Serkan Demir stated, “Symptoms experienced by MS patients, such as fatigue, visual disturbances, loss of balance, or numbness, can often be confused with other health problems. At our press conference today, the lesser-known symptoms of MS disease in society were reflected in artworks visualized using artificial intelligence technology. Our aim is to make these symptoms visible, to shed light on the silently progressing face of MS, and to underline the vital importance of awareness and early diagnosis of MS.”
The “MSafeler” themed visual artworks, developed to make the lesser-known symptoms of MS disease visible and produced using artificial intelligence technology, will be exhibited for a week at Ataşehir Metropol İstanbul Mall starting May 28th, following the press conference, and will be open to visitors.
For Information: Esra Nur Gökçe / esra.gokce@iletisimofisi.com / +90 507 931 53 42
About the Turkey MS Society
The Turkey Multiple Sclerosis Society was established in 1989 through the joint efforts of MS patients, their relatives, and expert physicians, with the aim of increasing awareness of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease in Turkey, creating public consciousness about the disease, and supporting patients in areas where they need help.
The association, which initially had its center at Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine and began its activities under the name “Istanbul Multiple Sclerosis Society,” moved from Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine to its first dedicated center in Mecidiyeköy in 1990. In 1992, after gaining the right to represent Turkey on international platforms, it adopted the name “TURKEY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY.”
In 1993, it was registered as a “Public Benefit Association.” In the same year, it was accepted as a member of the London-based “Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF)” and gained the right to represent Turkey internationally. The Turkey MS Society, which opened its first branch in Ankara in 1994, moved its headquarters to its new building in Şişli in 2011. The association, which opened a new branch in Gaziantep in 2013, also has branches in Bolu, Çanakkale, and Sakarya.
The Turkey MS Society has also opened the most comprehensive “Rehabilitation and Recreation Center” in Turkey to help MS patients overcome the physical difficulties they face and to elevate the fight against this disease to the level of developed countries. https://turkiyemsdernegi.org/
About Merck:
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates in the Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics sectors. The company’s approximately 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people every day. For the company, which operates in 66 countries, scientific curiosity and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to its scientific and technological advancement. Founded in 1668, Merck has a 355-year-long history. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the USA and Canada, where the company’s business sectors operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials in electronics. http://www.merck.com.tr/tr
