motor neuron disease
Progressive nerve degeneration
Motor neuron disease is a group of progressive neurological conditions in which the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement deteriorate and die.
Muscles gradually weaken, leading to difficulty walking, speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing.
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is the most common form.
In American English, ALS is the more frequent term; motor neuron disease predominates in British usage.
Reduced contractile capacity
- atrophyWasting from disuse
- spasticityPathological muscle tightness
- dysarthriaMotor speech muscle disorder
- dysphagiaMedical swallowing difficulty
respiratory failure · muscle cramps · paralysis · foot drop · slurred speech · choking · fatigue · muscle twitching
Seated conveyance for mobility-impaired
- assistive technologyDisability-compensating devices and software
- communication deviceTool for exchanging information
- accessibilityEase of approach
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
Stephen Hawking · mobility aids · independence · quality of life · support group · advocacy · respite care
Progressive loss of neurons
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- spinal cordBrain's extension through vertebrae
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- myelinNerve fiber insulation
demyelination · cell death · mutation · genetic · sporadic · familial
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- BiPAPTwo-pressure ventilation device
- feeding tubeDevice delivering nutrition internally
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
occupational therapy · speech therapy · respiratory support · clinical trials · stem cell research · hospice · nutritional support
Muscle electrical activity measurement
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- lumbar punctureExtracting cerebrospinal fluid diagnostically
- genetic testingAnalysis for inherited disorders
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
differential diagnosis · clinical examination · EMG · neurophysiology · prognosis · second opinion · specialist referral
muscle weakness
Reduced contractile capacity
- atrophyWasting from disuse
- spasticityPathological muscle tightness
- dysarthriaMotor speech muscle disorder
dysphagia · respiratory failure · muscle cramps · paralysis · foot drop · slurred speech · choking · fatigue · muscle twitching · stiffness
wheelchair
Seated conveyance for mobility-impaired
- assistive technologyDisability-compensating devices and software
- communication deviceTool for exchanging information
- accessibilityEase of approach
Stephen Hawking · caregiver · mobility aids · independence · quality of life · support group · advocacy · respite care
neurodegeneration
Progressive loss of neurons
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- spinal cordBrain's extension through vertebrae
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
myelin · demyelination · cell death · mutation · genetic · sporadic · familial
ventilator
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- BiPAPTwo-pressure ventilation device
- feeding tubeDevice delivering nutrition internally
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
physiotherapy · occupational therapy · speech therapy · respiratory support · clinical trials · stem cell research · hospice · nutritional support
ALS
Motor neuron disease
- post-polio syndromeLate deterioration after childhood paralysis
electromyography
Muscle electrical activity measurement
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- lumbar punctureExtracting cerebrospinal fluid diagnostically
- genetic testingAnalysis for inherited disorders
biomarkers · differential diagnosis · clinical examination · EMG · neurophysiology · prognosis · second opinion · specialist referral
- Disabilitiesblind, paralysis, vision loss, developmental disability, hearing impairment
- Neurological Disordersepilepsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy
- Fatal Diseasespancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, ALS, metastatic cancer, mesothelioma
- Terminal Illnessterminal cancer, terminal diagnosis, end-stage, dying, metastatic cancer
- motor diseasesALS, polio, paralysis, muscle weakness, muscle atrophy
- degenerationdegeneration, neurodegeneration, atrophy, deterioration, demyelination
motor neuron diseasemuscular dystrophy
Genetic muscle-wasting condition
disease, motor, motorist, motorway, motored, neuron, motoring, neurology, neurological