Motor Neuron Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

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Motor Neuron Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Understanding

Motor Nerve Disease or motor neuron disease (MND) is included in a group of diseases that cause motor nerve disorders in the spinal cord or brain. thus progressively losing its function. Motor nerves are nerve cells that send electrical signals to the muscles of the body, causing them to function. In the end, sufferers can lose the ability to breathe.

This disease includes neurodegenerative diseases. MND can appear at any age but most patients are over 40 years old when diagnosed. MND also attacks men more than women. One of the well-known diseases included in MND is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS attacks the famous physicist Stephen Hawking. This disease is rare but very serious and hard to cure.

There are several types of MND disease:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

ALS is the most common type of MND. ALS attacks the muscles of the hands, feet, mouth and respiratory system. Life expectancy is usually 3 to 5 years. Some sufferers can live up to 10 years or more with supportive treatment.

  • Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP)

PBP involves the brainstem which has the function of supporting basic functions such as breathing, swallowing, heart rate, blood pressure, and consciousness. Usually people with ALS also have PBP. 

  • Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA)

PMA causes the patient’s muscles to shrink. Shrinkage occurs slowly but progressively. The muscles that are usually affected are the hands, feet and mouth.

  • Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS)

PLS is one of the rare types of MND. PLS is more dangerous and slow running compared to ALS. This disease is not fatal but can affect quality of life.

  • Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

SMA is an inherited MND disease and usually affects children. There are three types and all are caused by gene abnormalities, namely SMA1. This disease affects the torso, legs and arms.

Motor Neuron Disease Symptoms

Various types of motor neuron disease (MND) give similar symptoms. However, the progress of each type of disease differs in the speed at which it worsens and varies in severity.

Symptoms usually appear slowly. Usually the symptoms will appear in parts of the body such as the hands, feet, mouth and respiratory system. Signs that generally appear include:

  • hand grip that is getting weaker making it difficult to hold things
  • weak
  • muscle pain, cramps or twitching
  • sloppy talk
  • weakness in arms and legs
  • increasing carelessness
  • hard to swallow
  • difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

When the condition gets worse, the symptoms will also get worse. Recognizable symptoms include:

  • pain, weakness, cramps and twitching of the muscles get worse
  • weakened limbs are getting worse
  • limb muscles begin to shrink
  • Affected limbs may experience difficulty moving or become stiff
  • joint pain getting worse
  • difficult to drink, eat and swallow
  • urinating due to not being able to control saliva
  • pain in the jaw due to too much yawning that cannot be controlled
  • Speech disorders worsen due to weakening of the throat and mouth muscles

Sufferers can also experience behavioral disturbances and emotional states. Sufferers can cry or laugh suddenly uncontrollably. In addition, sufferers can also experience depression, anxiety and insomnia. Decline in brain functions such as memory, planning, language, behavior and spatial relationships can also occur.

In the final stages, sufferers will completely lose the ability to move, eat and even breathe without assistance. Without medical assistance to support life, sufferers will die by themselves. Respiratory system complications are also the most common cause of death.

Motor Neuron Disease Reason

The exact cause of motor neuron disease ( MND) is still unknown. It is possible that MND is caused by multifactorial factors, namely genetics, viruses, toxins, and the environment.

There is a type of MND that is indeed inherited due to gene abnormalities. However, other types of MND disease occur randomly. A study found a possible relationship between the incidence of recurrent head trauma and degenerative nerve disease.

Motor Neuron Disease Diagnosis

Motor neuron disease ( MND) is difficult to recognize in its early stages because its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease. When there are symptoms of neurological disease, the doctor will consult a neurologist.

The neurologist will perform a complete neurological examination. Investigations include blood and urine tests, brain MRI, electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, lumbar puncture and muscle biopsies.

Here are neurological symptoms that are specific enough to determine the diagnosis of ALS:

  • weakened, wrinkled, and shrunken muscles
  • stiff muscles and abnormal reflexes
  • symptoms that may radiate to a muscle group
  • sufferers do not have other factors that can explain

Motor Neuron Disease Treatment

There is no way to cure Motor Nervous Disease or motor neuron disease (MND). Once diagnosed, the life expectancy of sufferers is only 3 to 10 years.

Treatment aims to support and improve the quality of life of sufferers. Supportive therapy can be in the form of assistive devices for movement, communication and breathing. Rehabilitation including physical, occupational and speech is also important and can improve quality of life.

Several drugs have been found and can improve the ability of sufferers and slow the disease progress. There are also medications that can help reduce muscle cramps and stiffness, such as botulinum toxin injections.

Anti-depressants can be used to control the sufferer’s emotions. Pain medications such as NSAIDs can also be used to reduce muscle pain. Doctors can prescribe anti-pain narcotics to treat very severe muscle pain.

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