Charge your creativity, fool MND

Discover Hope: Stephen Hawking’s Inspiring MND Story

“The human brain is awesome. It works 24 hours a day from the day we are born and only stops when we are giving an exam or fall in love.” - Shawn Warnke.

Have you heard about an illness that limits your ability to eat, walk, or breathe? It is Motor Neuron Disease, or MND. MND mortality rates were higher by 50% in males than in females. Not to worry—it’s not all bad news. 

Some amazing personalities, like Sir Stephen Hawking (76) and David John Bradley (82), who played Argus Filch in the Harry Potter series, battled well with MND.

They proved that when life becomes tough, try to achieve your dreams. Dreams make you desire over diseases. Cool, right?

Fun Fact

Your brain weighs around 3 pounds and surfs 70,000 thoughts daily. That’s a lot of thinking. 

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Unveiling Motor Neuron Disease

Honoring Sir Stephen Hawking

Advanced research on Motor Neuron Disease

Unveiling Motor Neuron Disease

Motor Neuron Disease is a set of neurological issues that damage the nerves or motor neurons. These nerves control our muscle movements. As a result, a person fails to move, speak, eat, hold, or drink. We have two types of nerves.

Upper motor neurons (connecting the brain and the spinal cord)

Lower motor neurons (connecting the spinal cord and body muscles) 

Seven variations of MND are known to us. Each affects the nerves, diminishing their functions and creating challenges for us.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Affects the whole body's muscles

degenerates upper and lower motor neurons

The most frequent variation of MND

Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)

Acts on upper motor neurons 

damages limbs and trunk muscles

Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP)

Alter nerves in the brainstem or bulbar region, that’s why the name 

harms the speech and swallowing muscles

Pseudobulbar Palsy

Attacks the brainstem and nerve pathways

Impairs speech and swallowing muscles

Emotional reflexes like laughing and crying go out of control

 

Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)

Damage to lower motor neurons

Affects the muscles of the hands, legs, and trunk

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Ruins lower motor neurons in the spinal cord

Creates difficulty in movements

Monomeric Amyotrophy (MMA)

Damages a single hand or leg

Affects lower motor neurons in the backbone

Muscle degeneration, shrinking, wastage, and loss are common parts of motor neuron disease. Each of the MND variations affects breathing muscles, restricting respiration at later stages, and leads to death. 

Honoring Sir Stephen Hawking

Imagine being told at 21 that you have a few years to live. Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the popular variant of Motor Neuron Disease. He knew the disease would strip his ability to speak, move, and breathe.

As his muscles weakened, his brain soared to the heights of universal mysteries. His book, “A Brief History of Time,” breaks down complex thoughts into simple and accessible language. Technology joined his determination to reveal his thoughts into words for his listeners. 

One such incident comes to mind. He smilingly said, “Thirty years ago, I was diagnosed with ALS, a type of motor neuron disease. The doctor said, “You have two and a half years to live.” I have always wondered how they could be so precise about the half.”  

His curiosity, persistence, and knowledge clear the darkness within many of us. He lived for 55 years with MND, exploring different dimensions of the space. His remarkable journey embracing strength and courage is an epitome for each of us.

Advanced research on Motor Neuron Disease

Nearly 5500 people are suffering from ALS in the USA. Persistent research to create technologies to support the patients is going on. 

 

Apart from medicines like Riluzole and Edaravone that cause drowsiness, therapies are there to counter the MND effects.

NiGene therapy

Stem cell therapy

RNA-Based therapies

Brain-Computer Interface

Symptom-handling therapies

Diet and lifestyle changes

Globally, more than 200 trusts and foundations work to support MND patients.

ALS Association USA

Motor Neuron Disease Association UK

FightMND Australia

Fondazione AriSLA Italy

Asha Ek Hope Foundation India

International Alliance of MND/ALS Associations

“Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny,” as Sir Stephen Hawking said; he proved it. L

et’s ignite our brains to spread fire onwards!