Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable us to move around, speak, swallow and breathe fail to work normally. With no nerves to activate them the muscles gradually weaken and waste. The patterns of weakness and rate of progression vary from person to person. While some people can live a long time with MND, the average life expectancy is 2 to 3 years from diagnosis.
MND was first described by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869 and there is still no known cause or cure for this devastating disease and treatment options are very limited. Effective management of the disease by a variety of specialist health professionals is vital to maintaining quality of life and assisting with symptom control.
Recent data around the incidence of mortality demonstrate an increase in the number of deaths from MND in Australia during the last decade (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare). The ageing population and interventions that improve life expectancy in MND are likely to result in a steady increase in the number of people living with MND in Australia.
In 2000 there were 450 deaths from MND compared with 596 in 2009 - the cause of this 30% increase is unknown. Over the last few years the number of people in Australia for whom the underlying cause of death is MND has remained fairly stable. In 2007 - 595 persons, 2008 - 611 persons and 2009 - 596 persons.
• Each day at least one person dies from MND and another is diagnosed
• 1400 people are living with MND in Australia at any given time
• 1071 people were registered with MND Associations as at 30 June 2010
• 2693 items of equipment were loaned by MND Associations in 2009/10
• Over 7500 people attended MND information or education sessions in 2009/10