Motor Neurone Disease
What is Motor Neurone Disease?
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is the collective namefor a group of illnesses that attack the motor nerve cells in thebrain and spinal cord. This leads to progressive wasting and weaknessof the muscles resulting in limb weakness. Involvement the respiratorymuscles may lead to impaired breathing and weakness of the tongue(itself a muscle) and muscles of the throat can result in difficultywith speech, chewing and swallowing.
The majority of cases are sporadic but in a small percentage of casesthere may be a family history of MND.
Around 180 patients are diagnosed with MND in Scotland each year.There are around 380 patients with MND in Scotland at any one time.
In Grampian, Orkney and Shetland we have around 45 patients.
What does our service offer?
A patient with symptoms or signs suggestive of MND is referred by theirGP to one of our general neurology clinics.
Once the diagnosis is established early referral is made to the MNDclinical Care Specialist and MND team for ongoing care, support andinformation. Follow up is offered in the multidisciplinary MND clinic.The MND Clinical Care Specialist can visit the person in their homeand for those unable to travel to clinic, review by video link isavailable in some areas.
Who are the team?
- Consultant Neurologist
- Clinical Care Specialist for MND: Dianne Fraser, Tel 01224 554388 or e-mail dianne.fraser@nhs.scot
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Dietitian
- Member of the palliative care team