How quickly do you deteriorate with MND?

A third of people with MND die within a year of diagnosis, and more than half die within two years. Up to half of all people with MND will be affected by some degree of cognitive or behavioural change.

How long does end stage MND last?

As MND has no curative treatment and has a prognosis for many of only 2–3 years, end-of-life issues may need to be considered early in the disease progression, particularly as there may be delays in diagnosis so that the disease has progressed by the time the diagnosis has been made.

Can MND cause depression?

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a severely disabling, relentlessly progressive neurological condition with a marked reduction in life expectancy which might be expected to be associated with significant depression and psychological dysfunction following diagnosis.

Is MND classed as a terminal illness?

MND is considered a terminal illness. While the average survival time after diagnosis is two and a half years, it is not uncommon for people to live a further ten years after their diagnosis.

How do you care for someone with motor neurone disease?

To care effectively for a person with MND, you will need training in:

  1. MND – including how it progresses and important markers to look out for.
  2. good communication skills – a care worker should know how to communicate with, and understand the needs of, a person who may have lost or has difficulty with their speech.

How does MND affect mental health?

Results indicated that the effects of MND on everyday functioning accounted for incidence of depression and low self-esteem. Acceptance of illness was related to severity of symptoms and was a significant factor irrespective of level of physical symptomatology.

How does motor neurone disease affect someone emotionally?

With MND, some people experience changes to their thinking and behaviour. This usually includes the way they take in information, process language, express emotion and react to others. The effects are usually mild, but can be more severe. You can be assessed with a simple screening process.

Can you drink alcohol with MND?

It may cause coughing, but diluting drinks can help – you may need to add a thickener. In large amounts, alcohol can dehydrate the body or affect your balance. When taking any medication, ask your doctor if it is safe to continue drinking alcohol. Swallowing problems vary with MND.

What is it like to live with motor neurone disease?

Motor neurone disease gets gradually worse over time. Moving around, swallowing and breathing get increasingly difficult, and treatments like a feeding tube or breathing air through a face mask may be needed. The condition eventually leads to death, but how long it takes to reach this stage varies a lot.

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