Can mnd come on quickly?

• Muscle twitching (known as fasciculation) .
• Tingling or pins and needles.
• Numbness in hands, feet or limbs.
• Fatigue or extreme tiredness.
• Tripping and one or both legs getting thinner.
• Dropping things due to weak or stiff hands.
• Slurred or faint speech.
• Swallowing difficulties.

The symptoms of MND start gradually over weeks and months. They tend to appear on one side of the body first and get progressively worse.

Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name for a group of diseases. These diseases affect nerves known as motor nerves, or motor neurons. In MND, these neurons degenerate and die. This causes the muscles to become weaker and weaker. This eventually leads to paralysis. The MND disease group includes:

MND is an uncommon disease. The average age that people are diagnosed with MND is 58 years.

MND is a progressive disease that often starts slowly and gets worse over time. Symptoms usually start on one side of the body before spreading. Usually, the first things people notice are:

Later on, people with MND:

A few people with MND develop a type of dementia.

MND will not affect your ability to:

The exact cause of MND is not known. You can't catch MND from somebody.

Generally, MND is believed to be caused because of a combination of environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors. Most cases of MND develop without an obvious cause.

Around 1 in 10 cases are 'familial', meaning the condition is inherited. This is due to a genetic mutation, or an error in the gene.

If you have an MND-related genetic mutation, your children have a 50/50 chance of inheriting that MND-related genetic mutation.

If someone in your family has MND, other people in the family can be tested for the genetic mutation. A test is arranged after you have met with a genetic counsellor. You will also receive support and counselling about the possible test results. The test is usually done by a blood sample.

People who inherit the genetic mutation have a high chance of developing MND. But, it is important to remember that not all people with the genetic mutation will develop MND.

If you notice any of the symptoms of early MND, you should see your doctor. If anyone in your family has MND, you can be tested by your doctor for the genetic mutation.

MND can be hard to diagnose when the symptoms first appear. Your symptoms may be mild and non-specific and could be related to other conditions. It is important to see a doctor if your symptoms don’t get better.

There is not one test for diagnosing MND. You may need to have a range of tests done. Some of these will eliminate other conditions.

Your doctor may refer you to a neurologist (a brain and nerve doctor) who will examine you and do various tests. These may include:

A person with MND will usually require assistance from different specialists, such as:

There is no cure for MND. However, with the help of specialists, a lot can be done to:

You may require the help of devices and home modifications to assist with movement and function. These might include:

Most people with MND die within 2 to 3 years of developing the condition. However, some people can live a long time.

See MND Australia's guide about end of life care for people living with MND.

Because there is no known cause of MND, there is nothing you can to do prevent it.

The complications of MND relate to late-stage disease. This can involve respiratory failure and paralysis.

The MND Associations in each state provides individualised support to people with MND.

MND often begins with weakness of the muscles in the hands, feet or voice, although it can start in different areas of the body and progress in different patterns and at different rates. People with MND become increasingly disabled. Life expectancy after diagnosis is one to five years, with 10 per cent of people with MND living 10 years or more.

The needs of people with MND are complex and vary from person to person.

The physical effects of motor neurone disease can include:

It was thought that MND only affected the nerve cells controlling the muscles that enable people to move, speak, breathe and swallow. However, it is now known that up to 50 per cent of people with MND can experience changes in cognition, language, behaviour and personality. Most people experience relatively mild changes.

The causes of MND are unknown, but worldwide research includes studies on:

Familial (hereditary) MND accounts for about five to 10 percent of cases. Several gene mutations have been identified since 1993, and current research aims to identify further genes linked to MND. The majority of cases, 90 to 95 per cent, are sporadic.

People who have MND may:

As MND progresses, the person’s physical condition will change rapidly, and require increasing assistance from a carer. Over time, both the carer and the person living with MND will need increasing levels of support, both physically and emotionally.

Carers can seek support through:

MND is still incurable, but it is not untreatable, as many symptoms can be managed. The drug riluzole – available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – has been demonstrated in clinical trials to prolong survival by several months and may help people to remain in the milder phase of the disease for longer. Research has shown that people live better and longer under the care of a multidisciplinary team. Interventions such as assistance with nutritional intake and breathing improve quality of life. Costly and unproven therapies are sometimes recommended by well-meaning people. Seek professional advice before trying unproven therapies.

MND VictoriaExternal Link can help people to cope with the physical and emotional effects of the diagnosis by providing: