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The Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association would like to thank Dr Stuart Neilson and Dr Frank Clifford Rose for permission to use the following extracts from their book. “Motor Neurone Disease” At Your Fingertips Guide”. Class Publishing (London) Ltd 2003 ISBN: 859590470
Who is at greatest risk of developing MND?
What are the symptoms and how fast does MND progress?
Are other members of my family likely to get MND too?
Are there any drugs for treating MND?
Is it safe for me to continue regular exercise?
What are the symptoms and how fast does MND progress?
The name motor neurone disease (MND) is given to a group of closely related conditions that cause degeneration of motor neurones (the nerve cells controlling muscles) in the brain and spinal cords causing progressive muscular wasting and weakness. Increased muscle wasting and decreased mobility occurs when the ability to walk or use arms and hands becomes increasingly difficult. The ability to talk clearly and eat or drink with out help from others may become a factor as muscles in the face and throat might be affected. Last year more than 120 people were diagnosed with MND
There are four main types of motor neurone disease,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),
Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP),
Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)
Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS).
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- ALS is the most common form of MND resulting in around 75% of cases.
- Involves both upper motor neureones from the brain and neurones from the brain stem, spine. and lower motor neurones (upper motor neurones descend from the brain to the brain stem and the spinal cord; lower motor neurones extend from the brain stem and the spinal cord to the muscles).
- Characterised by muscle weakness, spasticity, overactive or over responsive reflexes and inappropriate emotional responses.
- Most cases are recorded in over 60’s.
- Males vs Female cases are around 3:2.
- Average survival two to five years.
Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP)
- Affects approximately 25%
- Both upper and lower motor neurones may be involved;
- Characterised by dysarthria (difficulty in articulating words) and dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing). Lower motor neurone damage causing nasal speech, regurgitation of fluid via the nose, tongue atrophy (wasting away) and fasciculation (muscle twitching) and pharynx (tube between mouth and stomach) weakness. Upper motor neurone damage is characterised by a spastic tongue, explosive dysarthria and inappropriate emotional responses. Muscles in the upper limbs and shoulder girdle may also become progressively weaker;
- PBP mostly occurs in older people, slightly more common in women;
- Survival from onset of symptoms is usually between six months to three years.
Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
- A rare form which affects the upper motor neurones only;
- Characterised by spastic quadriparesis (spasms in all limbs), inappropriate emotions and spastic dysarthria;
- Age of onset fifty years;
- Average survival rate of twenty years.
Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)
- Affects approximately seven and a half per cent of people with MND;
- Predominantly lower motor neurone degeneration;
- Causes muscle wasting and weakness (often starting in the fine motor muscles of the hand) with loss of weight and fasciculation (muscle twitching);
- Age of onset is usually under fifty years (male are more affected than females in the ratio of 5:1);
- Majority of people surviving beyond five years.
Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association, 76 Firhill Road,, Glasgow, G20 7BA,
Tel: 0141 945 1077, Fax: 0141 945 2578, email: 
The Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, number 217735.
It is registered as a Scottish Charity with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), SCO 02662.