Italy marks 19th National ALS Day with awareness campaigns

Italy marked the 19th National ALS Day with widespread awareness campaigns and symbolic green illuminations of monuments across the country. The initiative, led by the Italian Association of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AISLA), aims to support the more than 6,000 people living with the neurodegenerative disease and their families.

Medical experts and association leaders emphasized the urgent need for multidisciplinary care and personalized medicine to manage the disease effectively. Francesco Lettieri of the Nemo Clinical Centers highlighted the growing demand for specialized assistance and called for greater territorial coverage and formal recognition of the disease within the healthcare system. Federica Cerri, a neurologist at the Nemo Clinical Center, stressed that care must extend beyond pharmacology to include prevention, assistance, and palliative care to maintain patient quality of life.

National leaders and local administrations have joined the call for improved rights and services. Fulvia Massimelli, president of AISLA, advocated for a pact with regional governments to eliminate territorial disparities in treatment. Local municipalities, including Cosenza, Parma, and various towns in the Marsica region, participated in the mobilization to highlight the importance of research and the necessity of supporting caregivers, who often face significant personal and professional sacrifices.