Motor Neurone Disease Association NSW To provide & promote the best possible support for people living with motor neurone disease, their families and carers, to advance research and to raise awareness. Motor neurone disease is the name given to a group of rapidly progressive degenerative neurological diseases that cause increasing and complex levels of disability leading to death, usually within five years of diagnosis. The most common form of MND is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Currently around 1300 Australians are affected by MND and thousands more; family, friends and carers live daily with its effects. Each day at least one Australian dies of this cruel disease and a new person is diagnosed. Although MND was first described nearly 150 years ago there is still no known cause, no known cure and no effective treatment. Average life expectancy from diagnosis is about 27 months (Sach 2003). Average age of onset is 59 years; however, the age range of onset is 18 to 90 years. The rapid progression of MND results in increasing support needs and reliance on a range of aids and equipment to maintain quality of life and social inclusion. Support needs can include assistance with: feeding, communication, breathing, movement, transferring, toileting and all daily activities. The social impact of MND is amplified by its complex nature, the speed of its progression and the spiralling series of losses, which pose:
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