Motor Neurone Disease

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is the name given to a group of related diseases affecting the motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurones are the nerve cells along which the brain sends instructions, in the form of electrical impulses, to the muscles.

Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles. This generally occurs in arms or legs initially, some groups of muscles being affected more than others. Some people may develop weakness and wasting in the muscles supplying the face and throat, causing problems with speech and difficulty chewing and swallowing.

• MND does not affect touch, taste, sight, smell or hearing, nor directly bladder, bowel, or sexual function. In the vast majority of cases, the intellect remains unaffected.
• MND is generally a steadily progressive disease, but the rate of progression varies greatly from one person to another.
• MND is not contagious. It can affect any adult at any age but most people who have MND are over the age of 40 and the highest incidence is in the 50-70 age range.
• Men are affected slightly more often than women.

The precise figures for the incidence and prevalence of MND are still uncertain. The incidence (that is the number of people who will develop MND in any one year) is approximately 2 per 100,000; the prevalence (the number of people who actually have MND at any one time) is thought to be approx 7 per 100,000. The estimated number of people with MND in the UK is up to 5,000.