Treatment
There is no cure for MND and the disease is fatal, however the disease progresses at different rates in patients.
People with MND are expected to live two to five years after the first onset of symptoms, although 10% of patients live 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. ‘
Weakness is caused by damage to motor neurons, upper motor neurons moving from the brain down to the spinal cord, and lower motor neurons that spread to the face, neck, 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 called motor neuronal disease, while in the US, ALS is referred to as a specific subgroup of MND, which is defined as a group of neurological disorders.
However, according to Oxford University Hospitals: “Nearly 90 percent of patients with MND have the mixed form of ALS, so the terms MND and ALS are commonly used to mean the same thing.”
symptom
Weakness in the ankle or foot, which can be manifested by triggers or difficulty climbing stairs and a weakness in the ability to catch things.
Blurred speech is an early symptom and may worsen later, including difficulty swallowing food.
Muscle cramps or twitching are also a symptom, as is weight loss due to the muscles in the legs and arms that dilute over time.
Diagnostic
MND is difficult to diagnose in the early stages because several conditions can cause similar symptoms. There is also no test used to determine its presence.
However, the disease is usually diagnosed by an exclusion process, which excludes diseases that show symptoms similar to ALS.
CAUSE
The NHS says MND is an “unusual condition” that predominantly affects the elderly. However, it warns that it can affect adults of any age.
The NHS says it is not yet known why the disease is happening. The ALS says MND appears worldwide “without racial, ethnic or socio-economic boundaries and can affect anyone.”
It is said that war veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS and that men are 20% more likely to receive it.
Lou Gehrig was one of the preeminent baseball stars while playing for the Yankees between 1923 and 1939. Known as the “Iron Horse,” he played in 2,130 consecutive games before the ALS forced him to retire. The record was broken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995
Lou Gehrig’s disease
In addition to being known as ALS and Charcot’s disease, MND is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Lou Gehrig was an extremely popular baseball player who played for the New York Yankees between 1923 and 1939.
He was famous for his power and was nicknamed the “Iron Horse”.
His power, popularity and fame surpassed the sport of baseball and the condition adopted the athlete’s name.
He died two years after diagnosis.