Therapy
There is no cure for MND and the disease is fatal, but the disease progresses at different rates in patients.
People with MND are expected to live two to five years after symptoms first manifest, although 10 percent of patients live for at least 10 years.
History
The NHS describes motor neuron disease (MND) as: “An unusual condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time. ‘
The weakness is caused by the decline of motor neurons, upper motor neurons that travel from the brain through the spinal cord, and lower motor neurons that spread to the face, throat, and limbs.
It was first discovered in 1865 by a French neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, which is why MND is sometimes known as Charcot’s disease.
In the UK, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is referred to as motor neuron disease, while in the US, ALS is referred to as a specific subset of MND, which is defined as a group of neurological disorders.
But according to Oxford University Hospitals, “Nearly 90 percent of patients with MND have the mixed ALS form of the disease, so the terms MND and ALS usually mean the same thing.”
Symptoms
Weakness in the ankle or leg, which may include tripping or difficulty climbing stairs, and weakness in the ability to grasp things.
Slurred speech is an early symptom and can worsen later, including difficulty swallowing food.
Muscle cramps or twitching are also a symptom, as is weight loss due to leg and arm muscles thinning over time.
Diagnosis
MND is difficult to diagnose at an early stage because different conditions can cause similar symptoms. Nor has any test been used to determine its presence.
However, the disease is usually diagnosed through an exclusion process that excludes diseases that show symptoms similar to ALS.
Causes
The NHS says MND is an “uncommon condition” that primarily affects the elderly. However, it cautions that it can affect adults of any age.
The NHS says that so far ‘it is not yet known’ why ‘the disease occurs. The ALS Association says MND occurs around the world “without racial, ethnic, or socio-economic boundaries and can affect anyone.”
It says war veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS and men are 20 percent more likely to develop ALS.
Lou Gehrig was one of the foremost baseball stars playing for the Yankees between 1923 and 1939. Known as “The Iron Horse,” he played 2,130 consecutive games before ALS forced him to retire. The record was broken in 1995 by Cal Ripken Jr.
Lou Gehrig’s disease
MND is not only known as ALS and Charcot’s disease, but is also often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Lou Gehrig was a hugely popular baseball player, playing for the New York Yankees between 1923 and 1939.
He was known for his strength and was nicknamed ‘The Iron Horse’.
His strength, popularity, and fame transcended the sport of baseball and the condition took the sportsman’s name.
He died two years after his diagnosis.