Motor neurone disease (MND) is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time. MND mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s, but it can affect adults of all ages.
It’s caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones. These cells gradually stop working over time. It’s not known why this happens.
It’s always fatal and can significantly shorten life expectancy, but some people live with it for many years. There’s no cure, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on your daily life.
Symptoms of motor neurone disease
Symptoms of motor neurone disease come on gradually and may not be obvious at first.
Early symptoms can include:
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- weakness in your ankle or leg – you might trip, or find it harder to climb stairs
- slurred speech, which may develop into difficulty swallowing some foods
- a weak grip – you might drop things, or find it hard to open jars or do up buttons
- muscle cramps and twitches
- weight loss – your arms or leg muscles may have become thinner over time
- difficulty stopping yourself crying or laughing in inappropriate situations
Motor neurone disease gets gradually worse over time.
Moving around, swallowing and breathing get increasingly difficult, and treatments like a feeding tube or breathing air through a face mask may be needed.
The condition is eventually fatal, but how long it takes to reach this stage varies a lot. A few people live for many years or even decades with motor neurone disease.
Tests and diagnosis of motor neurone disease
It can be difficult to diagnose motor neurone disease in the early stages. There’s no single test for it and several conditions cause similar symptoms.
To help rule out other conditions, a neurologist may arrange:
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- blood tests
- a scan of your brain and spine
- tests to measure the electrical activity in your muscles and nerves
- a lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) – when a thin needle is used to remove and test the fluid from within your spine
Motor neurone disease Treatment
There is no cure for motor neurone disease, but treatment can help reduce the impact the symptoms have on your life.
Motor Neurone disease Treatment include:
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- highly specialised clinics, typically involving a specialist nurse and occupational therapy to help make everyday tasks easier
- physiotherapy and exercises to maintain strength and reduce stiffness
- advice from a speech and language therapist
- advice from a dietitian about diet and eating
- a medicine called riluzole that can slightly slow down the progression of the condition
- medicines to relieve muscle stiffness and help with saliva problems
- emotional support for you and your carer
Regenerative Stem Cell treatment for Motor Neurone disease
The purpose of the treatment is to promote the healing of the brain injury in order to restore neurological function.
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- Improved motor function
- Improved balance
- Better coordination
- Decreased fatigue
- Increased muscle tone and strength
- Lowered tremor occurrence
- Better speech and swallowing
- Slowed down general disease progression
What are the top Benefits of Non-surgical Regenerative Treatments?
With so many options out there, you may be wondering what benefits choosing Non-surgical Regenerative Treatments provides. Over all Regenerative treatments are minimally invasive, non-surgical same day procedures with no risk of rejection, minimal recovery time and minimal worry. You are fully awake and ready to go home within a few hours after injections in the affected area.
Here are the top benefits to be aware of: