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• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Vim - Interview 32 >> He couldn't take in how serious the diagnosis was. He had to ring the doctor to ask what he'd been told. He cried for six months, but then began feeli

Vim was diagnosed just over a year ago in 2006 with bulbar onset MND. His speech is affected but he can still talk, and he can still walk independently. He has retired early.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Jenny - Interview 01 >> She thinks her father was in denial about the diagnosis until he lost his speech. He said they must have got it wrong.

Jenny is the daughter of a man who was diagnosed in 2001 with motor neurone disease at the age of 81, and who died 4 months later. He was ill for a year before diagnosis.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Derek - Interview 27 >> He does not want to read about life expectancy. He deals with MND by making believe it's not happening.

Derek was diagnosed 5-6 years ago (2001 or 2002). His arms and legs are affected but he is still able to walk unaided round the house. Finds his memory for words is being affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Kim - Interview 10 >> She suspected it was MND and wanted the doctor to tell her straight. For a few days she couldn't bear to be alone.

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 >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> She didn't tell her son (now 13) the name of the condition at first but explained she might need a wheelchair soon. He didn't want to talk about it an

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Sarah - Interview 21 >> Organising care was hard at first but now she has a great team of dedicated people. With their support she can still live at home with her children. [

Sarah was diagnosed 7 years ago when 7 months pregnant with her second baby in 2000. Now she cannot use her arms or walk unaided, and her speech is affected, so she uses voice software to communicate.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Shyam - Interview 35 >> He does not want any information about MND and what other people feel. He wants to experience it for himself and wait to see what happens.

Shyam was diagnosed with MND about six months ago (2006). He has difficulty walking and uses a wheelchair. His speech is slowing down and his voice is changing.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> Hal - Interview 26 >> He told his family not to look at the MND Association website because he feels the information about life expectancy is too negative.

Hal was diagnosed with MND nearly three years ago in 2004. Diagnosis revised to primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) a year ago. His speech is affected, but mobility is still good.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Roland - Interview 17 >> For the first year Roland did not want to go to a support group. He worried about seeing others, but also that others might be upset to see him becaus

Roland was diagnosed 7 years ago (1999) with Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA) form of MND. His hand muscles are affected but not his speech.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Ann & Barry - Interview 48 >> Barry found it upsetting to meet others with MND and does not want to share how he feels. Ann wasn't so scared by it.

Ann's husband Barry was diagnosed with MND about 10 years ago (1997) at the age of 49, after two years of symptoms and tests. (Since identified as primary lateral sclerosis - PLS).

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> Hal - Interview 26 >> He tends to put MND to the back of his mind and lives life how he wants. He uses the motto 'make every day count'.

Hal was diagnosed with MND nearly three years ago in 2004. Diagnosis revised to primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) a year ago. His speech is affected, but mobility is still good.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Derek - Interview 27 >> It saddens him that they can no longer have sex, but he tries to cuddle his wife and be as physical as he can.

Derek was diagnosed 5-6 years ago (2001 or 2002). His arms and legs are affected but he is still able to walk unaided round the house. Finds his memory for words is being affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> She started an online relationship with a man with PLS. But since she's been using a wheelchair he's stopped writing. She thinks he's in denial about

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Cordelia - Interview 13 >> At 76, she can look back at a wonderful life, and she feels lucky she has no pain. She thinks acceptance is better than denial.

Cordelia was diagnosed a year ago (2005) with MND after investigations for other conditions including spinal muscular atrophy. She now has considerable muscle weakness.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> Peter - Interview 20 >> Their way of coping was to ignore the condition. It's only more recently they've admitted it to themselves. It helps that it is PLS. [Peter cannot spe

Peter was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) 8 years ago (1998). Symptoms progressed quickly at first, but now more slowly. His speech was severely affected, so he was interviewed through his wife Ann. His mobility is also affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Martin - Interview 40 >> He doesn't want to know much about the condition. He tries to block it out and think he hasn't got it.

Martin was diagnosed about a year ago in 2006, after a year of weakness in his fingers and hands. Movement in his arms is now very limited, but his legs and speech are not affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> For a long time she managed to be 'happily in denial' but then reality set in and her whole life seemed to revolve around disability.

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Derek - Interview 27 >> No one can predict how the condition will affect you, so never give up hope.

Derek was diagnosed 5-6 years ago (2001 or 2002). His arms and legs are affected but he is still able to walk unaided round the house. Finds his memory for words is being affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Harry - Interview 43 >> It is too frightening for him to talk to his wife about what will happen to her in future. His daughter has taken on this responsibility for him.

Harry's wife was diagnosed with bulbar onset MND two and a half years ago. She is now unable to speak. She finds swallowing very difficult, and has a PEG fitted.