Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to

be talking to you about motor neurone disease. And you can find written notes on this topic at

zero to finals.com slash M&D or in the neurology section of the second edition of the zero to finals medicine book.

And you can find flashcards and questions to train your knowledge on this content

and help you remember the information for longer at members.0.0.com.

So let's get straight into it.

Motor neurone disease is a term that encompasses a variety of specific diseases affecting the motor nerves.

Motor Neurone disease is a progressive, eventually fatal condition where the motor neurons stop functioning.

The motor neurons are responsible for controlling muscles and muscle movement.

Motor neuron disease has no effect on the sensory neurons,

meaning that sensation is normal and intact.

The presence of sensory symptoms suggests an alternative diagnosis. Amiotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is the most common and

well-known type of motor neuron disease. Stephen Hawking had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Progressive bulbar palsy is the second most common form of motor neuron disease,

and it primarily affects the muscles of talking and swallowing, the bulbar muscles.

Other types to be aware of are progressive muscular atrophy and primary lateral sclerosis.

Let's talk about the pathophysiology.

Motor neuron disease involves a progressive degeneration of both the upper and lower motor neurons. The exact cause is unclear,

although several mechanisms have been considered. Many genes have been linked with an increased

risk of developing the condition. Family history is important as around 5 to 10% of cases are inherited.

There seems to be an increased risk with smoking, exposure to heavy metals and certain

pesticides.

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