One in every 300 people will develop Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in their lifetime - but early symptoms of the deadly disease can be difficult to detect.
The uncommon condition affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness that gets worse over time, and can significantly shorten life expectancy. Up to 5,000 people in the UK are living with MND and it causes around 1,200 deaths each year - more than half within the first two years of diagnosis, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The disease mainly impact people in their 60s and 70s, but it can affect adults of all ages - it's thought that around 200,000 of the current UK population will die of MND. It's caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones, which sees them gradually stop working over time; it's not known why this happens, and sadly there is no cure.
Symptoms of MND can develop gradually, and may not be obvious at first. According to the NHS, early symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease can include:
- Weakness in your ankle or leg – you might trip, or find it harder to climb stairs
- Slurred speech, which may develop into difficulty swallowing some foods
- A weak grip – you might drop things, or find it hard to open jars or do up buttons
- Muscle cramps and twitches
- Weight loss – your arms or leg muscles may have become thinner over time
- Difficulty stopping yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations
You should see a GP if you experience any of these symptoms, the NHS advises - while it's unlikely that you have Motor Neurone Disease, getting the right diagnosis as early as possible can help you get the care and support you need. MND can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as there is no single test for it and several other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
While MND cannot be cured, there are treatments available to help reduce its impact on a person's daily life, including medication and physiotherapy to help relieve muscle stiffness. Moving around, swallowing and breathing get increasingly difficult for people with MND, and treatments like a feeding tube or breathing air through a face mask may be needed.
While the condition eventually leads to death, how long it takes to reach this stage varies a lot from person to person, with some living for many years or even decades following diagnosis. You can find further information and support on the Motor Neurone Disease Association website.
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