Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a disease that affects the nerves that control our muscles. While uncommon, its effects can be devastating for the individual and their loved ones. Over time, the affected nerves degenerate and die, leading to chronic muscle weakness.
Early detection of MND is crucial for enhancing treatment options and preserving quality of life. Today, we’ll explore what MND is and early signs to look out for if you suspect you or a loved one is developing the condition.
What Is Motor Neurone Disease?
MND, otherwise known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive condition that affects the nerves and degenerates them over time. According to the MND Association, 5,000 people in the UK are affected by MND at any given time.
While anyone can be affected by MND, it’s most common in men over the age of 50. Only 5-10% of cases are considered to be genetic, while the other 90-95% of cases appear to be random.
As nerve degeneration continues to progress, individuals with MND may find their breathing, walking, speech and movement to be affected. These symptoms become more pronounced as the muscles continue to slowly deteriorate.
Common Early Signs of Motor Neurone Disease
There are several early signs of MND that can help indicate an accurate diagnosis. However, as the condition is relatively uncommon, symptoms can often be confused with or attributed to other ailments, injuries or illnesses.
The process of getting diagnosed with MND can be long-winded, as your doctor will want to observe how your symptoms progress. The earlier you are referred to a specialist, the earlier you can begin the process of diagnosis and treatment.
Early signs of MND include:
Muscle Fatigue and Weakness
Approximately 70% of people with MND experience difficulty with manual dexterity and awkwardness with walking or running. Muscle weakness can lead to frequent stumbling, difficulty holding or gripping objects, and the inability to complete tasks or activities that were once enjoyed.
Another common early symptom of MND is ‘foot drop’, which is where one or both feet feel weak or drag when walking. You may also not be able to lift your toes.
Fatigue and Extreme Tiredness
Fatigue is a common sign of MND, although it can also be a symptom of many other conditions. To be considered an early sign of MND, fatigue should occur in conjunction with other symptoms, such as muscle weakness or changes in breathing.
Poor sleep, immobility and repeated muscle twitching and cramping can contribute to feelings of fatigue, which is why some people find it to be one of the earliest MND symptoms.
Slurred Speech and Swallowing Difficulties
MND can affect the function of your tongue and throat muscles, which you may be able to feel early in the condition’s development. Many people with MND report that something ‘felt off’ about their speech and swallowing, although this can be difficult for doctors to diagnose.
As MND progresses, your voice may become hoarse or faint, especially when speaking for extended periods. You might develop dysphagia, which makes swallowing more difficult and can increase the risk of choking on food and drink.
Frequent Cramps
Cramping can be an early sign of MND. While occasional cramping is common, especially if you sit down for long periods of time or lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle, persistent cramps may be a cause for concern.
While you can feel cramping at any time, it’s most common during the night, resulting in sleep disruptions and contributing to fatigue and tiredness experienced by people living with MND.
Unexplained Weight Loss
MND causes messages to the muscles to become disrupted, leading to their weakening and eventual wasting away. This can cause unexplained weight loss, which may be diagnosed in hindsight as a result of early-onset MND.
Around 40% of people with MND also experience hypermetabolism, which can contribute to weight loss.
Changes in Reflexes and Coordination
The brain and spinal cord often send messages to muscles telling them when and how to move. MND damages motor neurons, meaning these messages are either delayed or can’t get through. People with early MND may have slowed reaction times and difficulties with coordination as a result.
Early-onset MND can lead to more frequent falls, increased clumsiness and difficulties performing everyday tasks or working. Changes in reflexes don’t always mean slowed; they can also be overactive or removed altogether.
Difficulty with Fine Motor Skills
Symptoms that affect dexterity and fine motor skills often appear early after the onset of MND, due to muscle wasting, weakness and loss of coordination.
You might find it increasingly difficult to:
- Write or draw
- Pick up small objects
- Use utensils to feed yourself
- Button clothing
- Look after and style your hair
- Shave or apply makeup
Muscle Twitching
Muscle twitching (fasciculation), or a sense of rippling beneath the skin, can occur with MND. However, twitching can also be caused by tiredness, stress, viral infections and general ill health. There may be no apparent reason for muscle twitches.
Therefore, professionals don’t often associate neurological conditions with twitching, as it’s not a reliable symptom. You’d need other symptoms to be present to warrant an MND investigation.
Less Common Early Signs of Motor Neurone Disease
While the above symptoms are the most common early signs of MND, some individuals may also experience changes in breathing, emotions and behaviour.
These symptoms are less common, but could still indicate the early onset of MND:
H3 Breathing Problems
Breathing difficulties typically occur in the later stages of MND, but a smaller proportion of people experiencing symptoms will notice it as one of the earliest signs.
Our lungs are controlled by our muscles, which weaken to create:
- Shortness of breath
- Breathlessness
- A quieter voice
- Difficulty sneezing or coughing
- Hypoxia
- Hypoventilation
- Headaches
- Tiredness
Changes in Behaviour and Thinking
More than 50% of people living with MND will experience changes in cognition over the course of their disease. Only 5-15% of patients will experience more severe changes in behaviour and thinking, potentially leading to a diagnosis of MND with Frontotemporal Dementia, otherwise known as MND/FTD.
Changes in cognition and behaviour can appear in a number of ways, including:
- Irritability
- Difficulty recalling information
- Trouble planning ahead
- Impulsivity
- Apathy
- Difficulties with learning and concentration
- Trouble with emotions
- Problems with maintaining socially appropriate behaviour
The symptoms of dementia often precede the motor symptoms of MND, often by a number of years. Individuals may be initially diagnosed with dementia, then with MND after more common symptoms have begun.
Emotional Outbursts and Mood Swings
People with MND may experience mood and emotional changes, especially when responding to the significant changes that a new diagnosis brings. It’s common for individuals to not know how to respond to life-changing news, such as finding out you have MND.
You may also experience emotional lability, which can cause emotions that don’t align with how you truly feel or the appropriateness of the situation. For example, you might start crying uncontrollably or laughing upon receiving negative news.
What to Do if You Think You Have Early Symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease
Many early symptoms of MND can be explained away with various other conditions, but it’s still important that you consult your doctor if you’re concerned about unusual symptoms. MND can take months or even years to diagnose, so it’s important to be proactive about your symptoms.
Depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing, your doctor might refer you for blood tests, behavioural surveys and assessments, gait observation, and scans such as X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans or MRIs. If your test results and symptoms suggest MND, you may be referred to a specialist for further diagnostic testing.
A diagnosis can be difficult to come to terms with, but it’s essential to remember that numerous support services are available. At Trinity Homecare, our compassionate carers are on hand to provide visiting or live-in Motor Neurone Disease care, no matter the severity of your symptoms.
Talk to Trinity Homecare today
If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.
Call us on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
