4b. Motor Neuron Disease Flashcards
what is motor neuron disease also known as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
what does amyotrophic refer to
muscle atrophy, weakness and muscle twitches that signify disease of the lower motor neurons
what does lateral sclerosis refer to
the glial scar in the lateral columns of the spinal cord found in autopsy
name 4 symptoms of MND
muscle atrophy
difficulty speaking, swallowing
difficulty breathing
muscle weakness
what happens to cognitive function in MND
it is often spared
how many cases of MND develop a type of dementia
10%
where do motor neurons originate and where do they project to
originate in the motor cortex and travel down to the brainstem and the spinal cord
where do lower motor neurons begin and what do they innervate
begin in the spinal cord and innervate muscles throughout the body
what is the sex bias in MND
1.6: 1
males to female
at what age does MND normally occur
late middle age - 60-70 years old
what is the incidence of MND
1.5-2.0/100,000
how long do people normally live with MND
3-5 years
how long did prof Stephen Hawkins live with MND
almost 50 years!
do genetic mutations cause a lot of MND
no - only a minority of cases
describe a genetic mutation that accounts for 38% of MND
C9ORF72
