Motor neurone disease (MND)
Overview
Motor neurone disease (MND) causes muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years. It's usually life-shortening and there's currently no cure, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
Symptoms
Adults of any age can get motor neurone disease (MND), but it usually affects people over the age of 50. Symptoms you may have at first include: stiff or weak hands – you may have problems holding or gripping thingsweak legs and feet – you may find climbing stairs difficult, you may trip over a lot and you may find ithard to lift or move your foot (foot drop)twitches, spasms or muscle cramps (where muscles painfully tighten) As MND gets worse, you may: have problems breathing, swallowing and speakingproduce a lot of saliva (drool)have changes in your mood and personalitybe unable to walk or move The symptoms affect everyone differently. You may not get all the symptoms and how quickly they get worse can vary from person to person. Early symptoms of MND, such as twitches and muscle weakness, can be similar to other, less serious conditions. But it's important to get them checked by a GP. You'll also be offered treatment and support for the symptoms of MND. Every person's needs will be different depending on their symptoms. Support you might need may include: physiotherapy and exercises to help with muscle weakness and stiffnessdietary advice to help you maintain weight – you may also need equipment and aids to help you when eating and drinkingmobility equipment, such as walking frames and wheelchairs, and home adaptations, such as handrails and stair liftshelp with personal care, such as washing, bathing and dressinghelp communicating – a speech and language therapist can teach you useful techniques to help with talking and advise about suitable communication aidstalking therapy, such ascognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to help you cope with emotions and feelings, such as anxiety and depression You should have an appointment with your care team every 2 or 3 months to discuss any changes to your symptoms and needs, and to check how treatment is going.
Causes
Motor neurone disease (MND) affects nerves in your brain and spinal cord called motor neurones. Motor neurones tell your muscles what to do. If you have MND, your motor neurones stop working properly. It's not clear why this happens, but for most people it's thought that a combination of certain genes and other factors are involved. About 1 in 10 people with MND have a family history of the condition. But if someone in your family has MND it does not necessarily mean you will also get it.
Treatment
There's currently no cure for motor neurone disease (MND). But there are treatments that can ease your symptoms and help you have the best quality of life possible. The type of treatment you'll be offered will depend on your symptoms and the type of MND you have. You'll probably need different treatments over time. A team of healthcare professionals will give you the support you need. The team may include a specialist nurse, a brain and nerve specialist (neurologist), a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist. Treatments you may have include: medicines to help ease symptoms, such as muscle stiffness or cramps, drooling and breathlessnessa medicine called riluzole if you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which can help slow down its progression You'll also be offered treatment and support for the symptoms of MND. Every person's needs will be different depending on their symptoms. Support you might need may include: physiotherapy and exercises to help with muscle weakness and stiffnessdietary advice to help you maintain weight – you may also need equipment and aids to help you when eating and drinkingmobility equipment, such as walking frames and wheelchairs, and home adaptations, such as handrails and stair liftshelp with personal care, such as washing, bathing and dressinghelp communicating – a speech and language therapist can teach you useful techniques to help with talking and advise about suitable communication aidstalking therapy, such ascognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to help you cope with emotions and feelings, such as anxiety and depression You should have an appointment with your care team every 2 or 3 months to discuss any changes to your symptoms and needs, and to check how treatment is going.