Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland

What is motor neurone disease?
The term motor neurone disease (MND) describes a group of related diseases affecting the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. These nerves are known as motor neurones. As the nerves become damaged the muscles they control weaken and waste.

The muscles first affected tend to be those in the hands, feet or mouth and throat, depending on what type of disease it is. MND does not generally affect the senses so sight, smell, touch and hearing remain intact, as do the sphincter muscles that control the bladder or bowel. Other areas that are not usually affected are sexual function and intellect. MND is not contagious.

Motor neurone disease is a progressive, life limiting disease and the rate of progression varies greatly from one person to another.

What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms are mild and include problems with walking, difficulties holding objects due to weakness of the hand muscles, and slurring of speech or a swallowing difficulty due to weakness of the tongue and throat muscles.

The nature of the disease is that it affects different people in different ways. In other words there are no clear-cut definitive symptoms that immediately indicate diagnosis.

What causes MND?
The causes of MND are not yet known, but researchers throughout the world are looking for cause.