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MND affects nerve cells located in the cerebrum and spinal cord, that instruct your muscles what to do.

This causes them to lose strength and become rigid gradually and usually affects your walking, speak, eat and breathe.

It is a relatively rare disease that is most common in individuals above age fifty, but grown-ups of all ages can be impacted.

A person's chance in their life of contracting MND is one in 300.

About 5,000 adults in the UK are living with the condition at any one time.

Scientists are uncertain what causes MND, but it is likely to be a mix of the genes - or biological traits - you get from your parents when you are delivered, and other lifestyle factors.

For up to one in 10 individuals with MND, particular genetic factors are far more significant.

There is usually a hereditary background of the illness in these cases.

What are the First Signs of the Disease?

MND impacts each person uniquely.

Not everyone has the identical signs, or experiences them in the same order.

The condition can advance at varying rates too.

Among the most frequent indicators are:

• loss of muscle strength and muscle spasms
• stiff joints
• difficulties in your speech
• complications involving swallowing, eating and drinking
• reduced cough reflex

Is There a Cure?

There is no cure, but there is hope stemming from treatments targeted at various types of MND.

MND is not a single illness - it is actually multiple that culminate in the demise of nerve cells.

A new drug known as tofersen works in just 2% of individuals, however it has been demonstrated to slow - and in some cases even reverse - a portion of the symptoms of MND.

It has been described as "absolutely groundbreaking" and a "real moment of hope" for the entire condition.

Although the drug has recently received approval in the European Union, it is not yet available in the UK.

Just one drug currently licensed for the management of MND in the UK and endorsed by the NHS.

Riluzole may slow down the progression of the condition and increase survival by several months, but it does not reverse harm.

What is Life Expectancy for MND?

Certain individuals can survive for decades with MND, including renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed at the twenty-two years old and survived until 76.

But for the majority, the disease progresses quickly and life expectancy is just a few years.

Based on the non-profit MND Association, the condition kills a one-third of people within a year and more than half within 24 months of identification.

As the neurons stop working, swallowing and respiration become more challenging and many people need feeding tubes or respiratory aids to help them stay alive.

Are Athletes More Likely to Receive a Diagnosis?

The exact cause has not yet been found, but elite athletes seem disproportionately affected by MND.

A pair of research projects from 2005 and 2009 indicated that professional footballers have an elevated chance of developing MND.

Research from 2022 by the University of Glasgow including four hundred former Scotland rugby athletes determined they had an higher likelihood of developing the condition.

Scientists additionally discovered that rugby players who have suffered repeated head injuries have physiological variations that could render them more susceptible to developing MND.

The MND Association acknowledges there is a "link" between collision sports and MND.

It noted that while the athletes researched were had a greater chance to develop MND, it did not show the sports directly led to the condition.

The charity also stresses that "reported MND cases in these studies is still relatively low, and so concluding there is a certain elevated chance could be misunderstood if this is merely a cluster due to statistical coincidence".

Multiple prominent athletes have been diagnosed with the disease in recent years.

This encompasses ex- rugby internationals, soccer players, and cricketers.

In the United States, baseball player Lou Gehrig died from the disease aged 39.