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• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Harry - Interview 43 >> He's been running his wife's business but now she needs more care he has to decide if he can keep it going. He would miss the excitement of work.

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.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> Hal - Interview 26 >> He was glad he'd already chosen to retire before diagnosis, rather than being forced to stop work.

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 50-64 >> Penny - Interview 11 >> At work she began finding it hard to lift heavy files onto a shelf. Her hands used to shake, and she developed coughing fits.

Penny was diagnosed three years ago (2003) with ALS, after having arm weakness, pains and coughing fits for three years. The condition has progressed quite slowly so far.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Vim - Interview 32 >> His employers were helpful and tried to find alternative work, but he had to stop work quite quickly. They gave him a good early retirement pension.

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 >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Sandy - Interview 36 >> He applied for Disability Living Allowance but carried on working until he could no longer hold a telephone and take notes at the same time.

Sandy was diagnosed 5 years ago (2002) after noticing weakness in one arm. His arms have been worst affected, and now his speech and neck muscles are deteriorating, but he can still walk well.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Ken - Interview 15 >> He gave up work almost immediately. He enjoyed teaching but the job had changed, so he was glad to retire early and spend time with his wife.

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 >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Peter - Interview 38 >> He enjoyed work and misses it very much. He gets involved in other activities, especially politics, but loss of mobility restricts what he can do.

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 - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> James - Interview 16 >> He was proud never to have had a day's unemployment. Realising he was not going to work again was hard to accept.

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.