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Key Takeaways
5000 people in the UK have MND at any one time
Each individual experiences the disease in a different way
It is difficult to diagnose and no definitive tests
There is no cure and MND is life-shortening
Symptoms worsen over time, so care needs will increase
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It’s a disease which affects the nerves known as motor neurones. These nerves are found in the brain and spinal cord, and they help tell your muscles what to do.
Being diagnosed with MND means that your movement will be affected and likely to have a wide range of symptoms. It can lead to loss of movement, weakness and muscle wasting.
Messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste, which can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. Some people also get changes in behaviour and thinking, but the disease affects everyone differently. Symptoms also progress at varying speeds, which makes the course of the disease difficult to predict.
MND affects everyone differently.
Not everyone has all the symptoms or in the same order. The speed at which symptoms progress can also very. MND cannot be stopped or reversed, but therapies, equipment and medication can help manage symptoms. These can all help achieve the best possible quality of life and prolong independence.
Some symptoms include: