Special Lighting of Toronto’s CN Tower to Mark “Stop Brain Disorders Week”

Newswise — A special lighting of Toronto’s CN Tower will recognize “Stop Brain Disorders Week” on Sunday, April 11, 2010. A mayoral proclamation has been issued declaring the week of April 11th as “Stop Brain Disorders Week” in the city of Toronto, where the world’s largest gathering of neurologists is taking place with the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) Annual Meeting at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

“Stop Brain Disorders Week” aims to help the American Academy of Neurology Foundation raise awareness about the vital need for more research into the prevention, treatment and cure of brain disorders, which currently affect one in six people worldwide. Common brain disorders include Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, autism and brain cancer.

The CN Tower will light up in the colors green, blue and white, which are the colors of the AAN Foundation’s Buy a Brain campaign to raise money for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of brain disorders. Donations to the Foundation can be made at www.buyabrain.org, where donors have the opportunity to purchase a virtual brain in honor of a loved one affected by a brain disorder.

“The American Academy of Neurology Foundation is thankful for the support of Toronto’s mayor, the CN Tower and the entire community in recognizing the vital need to stop brain disorders by supporting more research into preventions, treatments and cures,” said Christine E. Phelps, Deputy Executive Director of the American Academy of Neurology Foundation. “We hope everyone will visit our website, BuyaBrain.org, to learn more about how they can help stop brain disorders and honor their friends and family who are living with brain disorders. What makes the American Academy of Neurology Foundation so special is the fact that 100% of your donation will go directly toward research.”

More than 10,000 neurologists and neuroscientists are in Toronto attending the AAN Annual Meeting, which will highlight the latest advances in brain research through more than 2,300 research presentations. The AAN Annual Meeting runs from April 10 – 17, 2010.

The American Academy of Neurology Foundation (AAN Foundation) raises money to support vital research into the prevention, treatment and cure of brain disorders. The AAN Foundation is committed to improving patient care, quality of life and public understanding of the brain and other neurologic disorders.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 22,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology and the AAN Foundation, visit www.aan.com.