What is Motor Neurone Disease?

Motor neurone disease is a rare condition of the nervous system that leads to loss of muscle control. The disease leads to progressive weakness, muscle wastage and eventually disability.

Credit: vitstudio/Shutterstock.com

The disease is caused by the degeneration of specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord called motorneurons. These motorneurons control important muscle movements such as walking, speaking, swallowing, breathing and gripping. As the disease progresses, these actions become increasingly difficult to carry out and eventually the patient finds them impossible.

The cause of motor neurone disease is not clear and no links to diet, lifestyle or race have so far been established. However, genetic predisposition may be a factor, with around 5% of sufferers having a family member who has also suffered from the condition or a related illness called frontotemporal dementia.

In motor neurone disease, symptoms are painless and usually develop gradually over the course of months. In most cases, only one side of the body is affected at first. Some common examples of the first symptoms to develop include a weakened grip, difficulty lifting the arms, slurred speech, and dragging of the leg. A flopping of the foot or “foot drop” caused by weak ankles is another symptom.

There are no specific tests that can diagnose motor neurone disease. Diagnosis is based on a detailed clinical examination performed by a neurologist. Sometimes, specialised tests may be advised to rule out other disorders that may have similar features. Around 10% to 15% of people with motor neurone disease also have frontotemporal dementia, which can alter personality and behavior.

There is currently no known cure for motor neurone disease. Treatment is aimed at easing symptoms and compensating for the loss of mobility, swallowing and speech problems, for example. One medication has been shown to improve patient survival in some cases but the treatment cannot stop disease progression. Most people who develop this condition do not survive beyond three to four years from the start of symptoms, although some patients survive for up to ten years or more.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2023

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, July 07). What is Motor Neurone Disease?. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 15, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Motor-Neurone-Disease.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is Motor Neurone Disease?". News-Medical. 15 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Motor-Neurone-Disease.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is Motor Neurone Disease?". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Motor-Neurone-Disease.aspx. (accessed October 15, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. What is Motor Neurone Disease?. News-Medical, viewed 15 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Motor-Neurone-Disease.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.