Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Motor Neuron Diseaseis not the name you expected.
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: 8188809007
Fax: 8188809006
Tel: 8007824747
TDD: 8185933540
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: 5205292000
Fax: 5205295300
Tel: 8003444863
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
Copyright 1989, 1992, 1999, 2006, 2007National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
