Motor neurone disease (MND) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes rapidly progressive muscle weakness. Specifically, the disease affects nerve cells (motor neurons) that control the muscles that enable you to move, speak, breathe and swallow.
MND is also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Approximately 1400 people in Australia are living with this disease. MND typically affects people in their mid-50s and survival is approximately 2-5 years from the onset of symptoms. Although there is currently no cure for MND, an anti-glutamatergic medication is available and slows the progression of the disease.
We are trying to improve our understanding of what causes the neurons to die by studying patients with MND using novel electrical and magnetic tests. We also in the process of conducting a drug trial in the hope that it slows the progression of this devastating illness.