Motor Neurone Disease Overview
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a group of diseases where the nerve cells (neurons) controlling the muscles that we use to move, speak, breathe and swallow, degenerate and die. Without the nerves activating these muscles, they weaken and waste.
People with MND progressively lose the use of their limbs and their ability to speak, swallow and breathe, whilst their mind and senses usually remain intact.
MND is also known as ALS in some countries and Lou Gehrig’s disease in the USA, after a famous baseball player who died from the disease in the 1930s.
Did you know?
- 2 people are diagnosed with MND daily in Australia
- 2 people will die from MND daily in Australia
- The average life expectancy is 2.5 years
- Approximately 58% of people are diagnosed under the age of 65
- The ratio of people diagnosed is 60% male to 40% female
Read more at: https://www.mndaust.asn.au/Get-informed/What-is-MND.aspx