What is MND

What causes MND?

Many theories have been proposed - viral infection, environmental poisons, metabolic disturbance and genetic defects. Although the answer has not yet been found, research funded by Motor Neurone Disease Associations is expanding rapidly world-wide.
See Research.

How is it diagnosed?

Usually it is not difficult for a Neurologist to diagnose MND on the basis of the history and signs. Early signs may cause some initial difficulty. There is no specific laboratory test. Sometimes special tests, possibly including a brain and spine MRI, are necessary to exclude other diseases. Usually, electrical tests on muscles and nerves are performed and a lumbar puncture and muscle biopsy may be done.

How many people get MND?

Approximately one in 50,000 people will develop MND in any one year.

Motor Neurone Disease

Motor Neurone Disease is an incurable neurological condition that can leave people unable to do the everyday things that the rest of us take for granted. MND selectively affects the motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity. Walking, talking and swallowing may become virtually impossible, yet the mind and senses remain intact in the majority of cases. It is a degenerative, life limiting disease with the rate of progression varying greatly from one person to another.

The average life expectancy for a person with MND is three to five years following diagnosis depending on the activity of the disease and the particular muscle groups affected. The disease strikes people from teens to old age but the majority is in the middle to older age groups.

There are approximately 300 people living with MND in Ireland at any one time. On average, 1 person is diagnosed with the disease every 4 days.