NO IDENTIFIED CAUSE...AND NO CURE

MOTOR neurone disease is a terminal illness that destroys the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This gradually stops the messages that tell the muscles what to do getting through and affects how patients walk, speak, eat and breath, ultimately resulting in complete paralysis.

Not every patient will experience every symptom, and the order of symptoms varies from person to person. Common early symptoms including a weakened grip, difficulty lifting arms because of weakened shoulder muscles, a foot drop caused by weakened ankle muscles, dragging of the leg and slurred speech.

The disease is thought to be caused by a combination of subtle environmental and genetic factors – about five per cent of MND patients have an inherited form of the disease. There is not enough evidence to pinpoint exactly what the triggers are, however, and studies so far have been conflicting or inconclusive. But while £300million is spent annually on cancer research in the UK, the figure for MND is just £2million.

The onset of the disease can occur at any time in adulthood, although it is unusual under the age of 40 and the largest group of patients is in the 50 to 70 age group. Men are twice as likely as women to have the disease. There is no cure, and the only licensed drug is Riluzole which can temporarily slow its progression.