About Motor Neurone Disease

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching the muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.

MND can affect how somebody walks, talks, eats, drinks and breathes. However, not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone and it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order.

MND strikes people of all ages and currently there is no cure, however symptoms can be managed to help the person achieve the best possible quality of life.

MND is a rare disease that generally affects adults. Most people with MND are aged 50 years or older but occasionally people in their 20s, 30s and 40’s develop MND. In Ireland approximately 150 people are diagnosed with MND each year and there are about 400 people living with the disease.

There is no cure for MND and it is currently no known cause. Most cases of MND are known as ‘sporadic’ therefore there is no history of the disease in any of the immediate family however in over 10% of cases inherited genetic damage causes the condition which is known as ‘familial MND’.