Possible causes of MND (including familial MND)

Kim was diagnosed with MND (ALS) about a year ago (2005). Now unable to walk she needs help with most daily tasks, but is still working as an occupational therapist and able to drive. Her speech is not affected.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Phil - Interview 28 >> He wonders if giving up smoking after 50 years had anything to do with getting MND but his consultant reassures him it's nothing he's done.

Phil was diagnosed just over a year ago, after nearly 2 years of leg weakness. He is still able to walk at home but uses a wheelchair and scooter outdoors. He has some weakness in his right arm.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> James - Interview 16 >> He can't understand why both he and his wife developed MND. He thought playing a lot of sport might have had something to with it in his case.

James was diagnosed with Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) 15 years ago (1991). His wife also had MND and died 3 years ago, 2 years after her diagnosis.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Ken - Interview 15 >> He has read up on lots of different causes. He worked in farming and wonders whether exposure to sheep dip affected him, or whether it's just chance.

Ken was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) form of MND 5 years ago (2002). His arm muscles were affected first, followed by his leg muscles. His speech is not affected and his condition has progressed more slowly than he originally expected.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Sue - Interview 31 >> She has thought of many things which might have caused her MND including injury, stress, dental fillings and crop-spraying near her house. [Voice soft

Sue was diagnosed with bulbar onset motor neurone disease less than a year ago (2006). She is now unable to speak and uses a laptop with voice software. Her arms and legs are still relatively strong.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Mike - Interview 23 >> They wonder if exposure to chemicals in farming or Mike's days as a firefighter might have caused MND, including during the foot and mouth outbreak. [

Mike was diagnosed with bulbar onset MND 2 years ago in 2005. He is now unable to speak, so was interviewed through his wife Gill. He uses a whiteboard and Lightwriter to communicate. He has a PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy).

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Slawomir - Interview 33 >> He has thought about lots of possible causes. He has spent time near laundry chemicals, but not as much time as the laundry workers themselves.

Slawomir was diagnosed 3 months ago, 18 months after first noticing weakness in his leg. He wonders if he may in fact have Lyme Disease. He can still walk and drive.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Peter - Interview 38 >> He believes Lyme Disease may trigger MND, and sometimes may be mistaken for MND, but British doctors are much less aware of Lyme Disease than doctors

Peter was diagnosed three years ago (2004). Symptoms started in his arms and hands, and progressed to his legs. He now uses a wheelchair full-time.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Sylvia - Interview 25 >> She wonders if hairdressing products might have caused a cluster locally, but it seems unlikely. She also wonders about the effects of stress and pest

Sylvia was diagnosed a year ago in 2005, after noticing difficulties walking. She can move around at home with a trolley, and uses a wheelchair or scooter outdoors. She uses non-invasive ventilation regularly.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Sue - Interview 31 >> Searching for a cause helps people cope with MND, but it can become an obsession. She would like to see more research into the effects of crop-sprayin

Sue was diagnosed with bulbar onset motor neurone disease less than a year ago (2006). She is now unable to speak and uses a laptop with voice software. Her arms and legs are still relatively strong.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Peter - Interview 38 >> More funding and more research are needed for MND. He believes all new patients should be routinely asked questions about their lifestyle, to help ide

Peter was diagnosed three years ago (2004). Symptoms started in his arms and hands, and progressed to his legs. He now uses a wheelchair full-time.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 39 >> She had already met her future husband at university before her father died of MND. They assumed it was unlikely to affect her until she was much olde

Liz was diagnosed with inherited form of MND in 2004. (Her father and uncle both had MND). Weakness in her legs progressed to her arms; she is now in a wheelchair. Her speech is unaffected.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 39 >> Her father did not have the SOD-1 mutation so she did not have genetic testing. She had already been diagnosed before she and her husband would have t

Liz was diagnosed with inherited form of MND in 2004. (Her father and uncle both had MND). Weakness in her legs progressed to her arms; she is now in a wheelchair. Her speech is unaffected.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> She might not have had children if she'd known she had familial MND, but she's glad she has them. She wants them to have positive memories of her life

Liz was diagnosed with rare inherited (familial) form of MND 8 years ago (1998). Sixth member of her family to be diagnosed. Has weakness in her arms and legs, and some speech difficulties. Has a PEG but does not use it yet.

Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> So far her children have decided not to be tested for the SOD-1 gene mutation. At the moment neither of them wants children.

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