The five early warning signs of motor neurone disease you shouldn't ignore

There are early warning signs of motor neurone disease that you should never ignore.

Rugby star Rob Burrow died yesterday (June 2) at the age of 41 after a four-and-half-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND). He announced his diagnosis in 2019.

MND is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time. It's caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones. These cells gradually stop working over time. It's not known why this happens.

There's no cure for MND, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on a person's daily life. Some people live with the condition for many years but MND can significantly shorten life expectancy and, unfortunately, eventually lead to death.

Around 5,000 adults in the UK have MND and there is a one in 300 risk of developing the condition over the course of a person's life.

Symptoms of motor neurone disease happen gradually and may not be obvious at first. Here are some of the early warning signs you shouldn't ignore.

Weakness in your ankle or leg

Tripping, falling and finding it harder to climb the stairs could be an early warning due to the condition causing muscle weakness in the leg and ankle.

'Foot drop' can be an early symptom of MND, where one foot sometimes feels weak or drags, according to MNDA.

Slurred speech

Slurred speech can be an indicator of MND. This is due to people with the condition suffering from weak muscles in the face, mouth, tongue or throat.

This can also cause difficulty in swallowing food and faint speech when you feel breathless and cannot support vocal volume.

Weak grip

Having weak or stiff hands is among the early signs - this could look like dropping things and finding it hard to open jars or do up buttons.

This is also due to muscle weakness but can be an indication of age-related joint problems or a trapped nerve.

Muscle cramps and twitches

Muscle twitches and cramps can be a sign of MND. This can also feel like a rippling sensation under the skin, according to Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

Twitching is not usually associated with a neurological condition like MND unless other symptoms are also present.

Emotional outbursts

Difficulty stopping yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations can be a warning sign due to the condition changing the way you think and act.

Up to half of people diagnosed with MND experience these changes, according to MNDA. It can make it harder to stop yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations.