Motor Neurone Disease

Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of rare diseases that affect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord leading to muscle weakness and wasting.

About motor neurone disease...
Your brain sends instructions to muscles that control voluntary movement (such as walking and swallowing) along nerve cells called motor neurones. MND is a disease that gradually destroys these nerve cells leading to weakness and wasting of your muscles. Unfortunatley around three in every 100,000 people in the UK develop MND each year. It tends to occur as you get older – usually between the age 50 and 70. Men may be up to twice as likely as women to be affected.

Symptoms of motor neurone disease
    
MND develops at different speeds in different people and affects individuals in different ways.
The disease usually begins very gradually and you may just feel tired to start with. Clumsy fingers and a weak grip are often the first symptoms of muscle problems.
Other symptoms include:

• pain and discomfort
• muscle cramps, spasms or twitching – called fasciculations
• stiff joints
• constipation – due to restricted movement or change in diet
• excess saliva or difficulty swallowing saliva
• coughing or a feeling of choking
• breathing problems
• depression                                    

These symptoms aren’t always caused by MND but if you have them, see your doctor.

Although thinking and reasoning aren’t usually affected, it’s possible you may have some level of intellectual difficulty or a change in personality.
As the disease progresses you may have the following problems.

• Muscle weakness in your arms, hands and legs may make everyday tasks more difficult, such as turning taps or door handles, brushing your hair or fastening buttons. Raising your foot with each step may be difficult, which may cause your feet to drag on the floor. You may find it difficult to hold your head upright if your neck muscles weaken.
• Your throat muscles may be affected and this may lead to difficulties swallowing and with speech.
• You may laugh or cry more easily. This may be due to physical changes caused by the disease, rather than changes in how you’re feeling.
• The muscles of your chest wall may be affected, which can make it difficult to breathe.

Diagnosis of motor neurone disease      

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history. If your doctor suspects you may have MND he or she will refer you to a neurologist (a doctor who specialises in conditions of the nervous system).       

Sadly my grandad passed away from MND. It's a horrible feeling.