Wilson’s Disease Awareness Day
Each year on December 6th, the global community marks Wilson’s Disease Awareness Day, commemorating the birthday of Dr. Samuel Kinnier Wilson—the neurologist who first described the rare genetic disorder that now bears his name.
This awareness day was inaugurated by the Wilson’s Disease International Community, a newly formed global network of patients, families, clinicians, and researchers working together to raise visibility, support research, and ensure access to timely diagnosis and treatment across the world.
By dedicating this date to Dr. Wilson, we not only honour his pioneering work in neurology but also shine a light on the resilience of the Wilson’s Disease community and the importance of early recognition and care.
Learn more, share stories, and help spread the word. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by this rare but treatable condition.
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We are celebrating the first Wilson Disease Awareness Day in honor of Dr. Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (December 6, 1877 – May 12, 1937), the American-born British neurologist who the rare genetic liver disease is named after.
Building on the research of others that attempted to shed the mystery on this rare mysterious disorder, Dr. Wilson’s 1911 thesis described a familial nervous disease associated with cirrhosis of the liver.
Wilson disease can look like a liver disease, neurological disorder, psychiatric illness or a combination of these disease symptoms making it challenging to diagnose.
Dr. Wilson called the disorder Progressive Lenticular Degeneration. While he suspected a toxin was involved, it took another three decades for researchers to find that copper was the cause.
It would take another four decades until the first promising treatment option was introduced – penicillamine in 1956 by British physician Dr. John Walshe.
We are joining the International Wilson Disease Community in honoring Dr. Wilson, celebrating all the dedicated Wilson disease researchers and doctors and all Wilson patients around the world. On behalf of the global Wilson disease community, we are forever grateful for the tireless work of Dr. Wilson. We think he would be pleased with the exciting advances being made in Wilson disease.
Please show your support for our first Wilson Disease Awareness Day. On December 6, along with the images we created, also post a photo of yourself making a “W” sign for Wilson disease. Share on your social networks and share what your connection is to WD.
Use these hashtags
#WilsonDiseaseAwarenessDay
#Wilsondisease
#Wilsondiseaseawareness
#WilsonDiseaseAssociation
Download the Wilson’s Disease Awareness Day Poster
