🔬Today marks World Rare Disease Day 🌍✨
To mark this date, we share the perspective of 2CA-Braga researcher Dr. Ricardo Maré.
Rare diseases are those that have a very low frequency, affecting approximately one in every 2,000 people. It is estimated that there are between 6,000 and 8,000 different rare diseases, 80% of which have a genetic origin and approximately 70% of which begin in childhood.
Rare diseases are usually chronic and debilitating and require combined efforts in various areas of intervention, especially genetic and pharmacological research, rehabilitation and social support, in order to enable patients to be integrated into society more effectively.
Rare Disease Day, celebrated on the last day of February, seeks to promote knowledge and research, and raise awareness in the community to support patients and their families, highlighting the challenges they face.