Typical Early Warning Symptoms and Signs of MND

Most MND symptoms are gradual in onset and get worse as time progresses. Symptoms are what the patient feels, and signs are what the doctor will see upon examination.

Symptoms include:

• Muscle weakness, which usually starts in the hands and feet, and sometimes shoulders and hips
• Hand weakness, manifesting itself in dropping things, difficulty opening jars and using nail clippers, worsening writing, etc.
• Foot weakness results in tripping, difficulties climbing stairs – typically without pain or sensation loss
• Difficulty with speech such as slurring, tongue weakness with twitches, and difficulty swallowing
• Atrophy and/or twitching in muscles (fasciculations), cramps and stiffness
• Changes in behavior like increased impulsivity, excessive laughing or crying

While these symptoms can be associated with many other disorders, people experiencing them should contact their GP and get a specialist Neurologist referral.

What the physician will see as possible signs of MND are:

• Muscle atrophy and/or fasciculations, weakness, and increased tone/spasticity in muscles and/or increased deep tendon reflexes
• Slurred and/or spastic speech, excess saliva, shortness of breath, and/or cognitive changes
• Reduced lung capacity on spirometry
• All of these signs will be in absence of sensory or other changes on examination