What is Motor Neurone Disease?

MOTOR neurone disease causes a range of symptoms which develop at varying speeds. Messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles, leading them to weaken, stiffen and waste. It affects how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe, and some people also experience changes to thinking and behaviour.

There is a one in 300 risk of getting MND and up to 5,000 adults in the UK are affected at any one time. Adults of any age can get it but are likely to be over 50. Not all symptoms will be experienced by those with the disease.

It is life-shortening and there is currently no cure. It is some times known as the 1,000-day disease as most sufferers do not survive beyond this point.

However physicist Stephen Hawking, perhaps the most famous sufferer, survived 55 years. Former Scottish rugby union player Doddieweir, 49, revealed he had MND two years ago. He received the Helen Rollason Award at the recent BBC Sports Personality Awards for helping others. Former Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain rugby league star Rob Burrow, 37, also revealed he has the disease.