SPRINGFIELD – To bring awareness to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), which impacts one in every 6,000 newborns in the U.S., State Senator Laura Fine introduced Senate Resolution 60 commemorating May 15 as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day.

“TSC can cause long-lasting complications on a young person’s health and is unfortunately often misdiagnosed,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Observing Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day will increase knowledge of this disease and hopefully help people find a correct diagnosis to get the most effective treatment to improve their health.”

TSC is a multi-system genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumors in the brain and other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs and skin. It can also affect the central nervous system leading to seizures, impaired intellectual development, autism, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities and kidney diseases. Most people with TSC start experiencing symptoms when they are a year old. However, identifying symptoms of the disease take longer to develop so TSC can be misdiagnosed or missed for many years.

Approximately 40,000 to 80,000 people in the U.S. have TSC. There is no cure for TSC; however, treatments are available based on individual symptoms. Observing Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day urges those in Illinois to support research to find a cure in addition to assisting individuals and families affected by this disease.

Senate Resolution 60 establishes May 15, 2023 as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day in Illinois.