Motor Neuron Disease

Synonyms

• Motoneuron Disease
• Motoneurone Disease
• Motor Neuron Syndrome
• Motor Neurone Disease

Disorder Subdivisions

• Progressive Bulbar Palsy
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy, All Types
• Kugelberg-Welander Syndrome
• Lou Gehrig's Disease, Included
• Duchenne's Paralysis
• Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease
• Juvenile Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• ALS Included
• Benign Focal Amyotrophy
• Infantile Spinal Muscular Atrophy (all types)

General Discussion

Motor neuron disease comprises a group of severe disorders of the nervous system characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons (neurons are the basic nerve cells that combine to form nerves). Motor neurons control the behavior of muscles. Motor neuron diseases may affect the upper motor neurons, nerves that lead from the brain to the medulla (a part of the brain stem) or to the spinal cord, or the lower motor neurons, nerves that lead from the spinal cord to the muscles of the body, or both. Spasms and exaggerated reflexes indicate damage to the upper motor neurons. A progressive wasting (atrophy) and weakness of muscles that have lost their nerve supply indicate damage to the lower motor neurons.

Resources

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association

27001 Agoura Road

Suite 150

Calabasas Hills, CA 91301-5104

USA

Tel: (818)880-9007

Fax: (818)880-9006

Tel: (800)782-4747

TDD: (818)593-3540

Email: als@alsa-national.org

Internet: http://www.alsa.org



Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

P.O. Box 196

Libertyville, IL 60048

Tel: (847)367-7620

Fax: (847)367-7623

Tel: (800)886-1762

Email: sma@fsma.org

Internet: http://www.curesma.com



Motor Neurone Disease Association

P.O. Box 246

Northampton, Intl NN1 2PR

United Kingdom

Tel: 44 1604 250505

Fax: 44 1604 624726

Email: enquiries@mndassociation.org

Internet: http://www.mndassociation.org



Muscular Dystrophy Association

3300 E. Sunrise Dr

Tucson, AZ 85718

USA

Tel: (520)529-2000

Fax: (520)529-5300

Tel: (800)344-4863

Email: mda@mdausa.org

Internet: http://www.mdausa.org



National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

31 Center Drive

8A07

Bethesda, MD 20892-2540

Tel: (301)496-5751

Fax: (301)402-2186

Tel: (800)352-9424

Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/



International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations

P.O. Box 246

Northampton, NN1 2PR

United Kingdom

Email: alliance@alsmndalliance.org

Internet: http://www.alsmndalliance.org/



Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association

76 Firhill Rd

Glasgow, Intl G20 7BA

Scotland

Tel: 01419451077

Fax: 01419452578

Email: info@scotmnd.co.uk

Internet: http://www.scotmnd.org.uk



Association for Frontotemporal Dementias (AFTD)

1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1100

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Tel: (267)514-7221

Tel: (866)507-7222

Email: info@ftd-picks.org

Internet: http://www.ftd-picks.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  9/23/2007

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