Тhe author of the ”Harry Potter” book series, Joanne K. Rowling has donated incredible 19 million dollars to fund research related to multiple sclerosis.

The money will go to the University of Edinburgh for enhancing the further development of the Anne Rowling-Regenerative Neurology Clinic.

Joanne K. Rowling donated a huge sum of money for the establishment of this clinic in 2010 and named it after her mother, Anne Rowling, who passed away after her battle with multiple sclerosis.

MS is a disabling disease of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) when the immune system attacks the myelin sheath which protects and covers nerve fibers. Consequently, the communication between the body and the brain becomes interrupted which causes permanent deterioration and damage of the nerves.

MS symptoms usually include:

– numbness in the limbs; – electric-shock sensations which appear when the patient bends the neck forward; – loss of vision; – dizziness; – slurred speech; – lack of coordination;

– problems with the bladder and bowel function.

The cause of this condition is still unknown but there are several risk factors linked to MS:

– Age. People between the ages of 15 and 50 are at higher risk of developing MS;

– Gender

– Family history;

– Smoking cigarettes;

– Infections like infectious mononucleosis;

– Low levels of vitamin D.

The aim of this donation is to bring more clinical studies and trials regarding severe neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Joanne K. Rowling said that she found hard to believe that the clinic will make incredible progress in the field of Regenerative Neurology. That is why she feels happy to give financial support to the clinic and thus help the new stage of discovery and achievement in respect of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

A part of the money is intended for the construction of facilities connected to the clinic as well as for providing better treatment and more effective therapy for MS patients through the discovery of the earliest possible symptoms of this debilitating disease.

References:

Fox News

Mayo Clinic