In 2024 the International Wilson Disease Community was formed that includes more than 20 Wilson disease patient advocacy organizations around the world. While each country or region advocates for issues relevant to their patients and families, we all share the common goal of raising awareness for our rare genetic liver disease. With greater awareness and understanding, more patients can get diagnosed in time to be helped with treatment and live the best quality of life possible. Our shared goal is for everyone to know what Wilson disease is! We invite you to join us in our effort.

Share these images on your social media accounts! Click on the image you would like to share and then right click (or long tap on mobile) to save it.

Be part of a global viral campaign by getting a photo of yourself making the “W” sign with your hands. It not only stands for Wilson, but also for warrior. We are all Wilson warriors! Aida Regi with the Spanish Wilson Disease patient and family organization shows us how it’s done. (add the corresponding photo here).

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.

#WilsonDiseaseAwarenessDay
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