The Cyprus Museum in Nicosia and the Paphos and Larnaca castles were illuminated in blue and purple on Friday to raise awareness of Huntington’s disease.

May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month. Huntington’s is a genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities and has no cure.

According to an epidemiological study conducted in 2015 at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 42 patients with Huntington’s disease were recorded in Cyprus as well as 22 asymptomatic carriers of the mutation of the Huntington gene (64 people in total). It is estimated that there are many more asymptomatic patients, but they have not yet been identified through genetic analysis.

The antiquities department announced that they joined the campaign to help raise awareness about the disease and express solidarity with people who suffer from Huntington’s and has illuminated the museum and castles in the colours of the Huntington’s Disease Awareness, purple and blue.

In Cyprus, the campaign is organised by the Huntington’s Disease Association-Cyprus.