What is MND?
Motor Neurone Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a debilitating neurological disease that results from the degeneration and death of the large motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord. This causes a worsening muscle weakness that leads to loss of mobility and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.
MND usually strikes at random, during middle age, and about 100 new cases of MND are diagnosed in Scotland each year. Some treatments can ameliorate symptoms, but there are currently no treatments that can halt or reverse the progression of the disease.
For over 95% of cases of MND, identifying the causes has defied decades of research. Understanding why and how the neurones die is a fundamental precursor to the development of new therapies. MND may share the cardinal mechanisms of neurodegeneration with other neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease. For this reason, the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the research at the Euan MacDonald Centre is of vital importance.
The Investigators at The Euan MacDonald Centre are dedicated to researching the causes of MND and the development of treatments and improved patient care.
For information on living with MND
The Euan MacDonald Centre has close links with the two British MND charities. If you are living with MND, know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease, or care for someone living with it, their websites will provide you with further information:Motor Neurone Disease Assocation
The definitive resource for people living with MND and their carers.
MND Scotland
Resource aimed at people living with MND in Scotland.
