What is Motor Neuron Disease?

Motor neuron disease(MND) is defined as a neurological disorder in which the motor neurons degenerate. When we go for a walk or talk to someone, our motor neurons orchestrate these movements. Just like our other body parts, these neurons can also become damaged. Since motor neurons control muscle activity, this condition can significantly affect the quality of life of a person.

Motor neuron disease is a progressive condition in which the motor neurons gradually weaken with time. The disease is incurable and most people have to live with it for their entire lives.
You must have heard of Stephen Hawking. He was a  brilliant physicist who suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS), one of the most common types of motor neuron disease. Unlike many, Stephen Hawking surpassed the average life expectancy of people with this condition.

Neurologists believe that the correct combination of motor neuron disease treatments can help improve the quality of life of patients suffering from this condition. In case you have been diagnosed with motor neuron disease, you should consult a neurologist who can advise you about suitable motor neuron disease treatment options.

One might ask, what are motor neurons?  Motor neurons are a type of nerve cells responsible for sending signals to the muscles. These signals control crucial muscle functions such as walking, swallowing, gripping, breathing, and speaking. Over time, patients with MND may find it increasingly difficult to perform these activities. They may even become impossible to do.

There are two types of motor neurons:

• Upper motor neurons: These motor neurons originate in your brain and send signals or messages to your spinal cord.
• Lower motor neurons: These types of motor neurons reside in the spinal cord and brain stem. There, they receive signals sent by your brain. These neurons act as mediators relaying messages from your brain stem and the spinal cord to your muscles. Thus, the muscles eventually receive the signals telling them which functions to perform.

In a motor neuron disease, either the upper or the lower motor neurons can be affected. Sometimes even both. When the lower motor neurons continue to die, the muscles no longer receive signals from them. Eventually, the muscles shrink in size and become weak. Your neurologist may refer to this condition as “wasting” or “atrophy”. This can cause your muscles to twitch spontaneously. You can feel these twitches below the skin’s surface. If your upper motor neurons are affected, they will not be able to send signals to your lower motor neurons. In such cases, you may feel stiffness in your muscles and can experience overactive reflexes. Thus, MND can cause your voluntary movements to become extremely difficult and slow.

What are the Motor Neuron Disease Treatment Options in India?

There are no predefined or routine options available for motor neuron disease treatment in India. However, supportive therapies can help patients maintain their lifestyles while relieving symptoms. Motor neuron disease patients are frequently cared for by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. Your neurologist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, and social worker are examples of these professionals. In India, some of the approaches used to treat motor neuron disease are as follows:

• Physiotherapy: A physiotherapist can assist you in improving your posture, slowing muscle atrophy or weakness, and resolving joint immobility issues. Exercises that can improve your movement are part of physiotherapy.
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapists work with people of all ages to remove obstacles that prevent them from performing daily or desired activities. They provide guidance and support to patients with motor neuron disease. Occupational therapists assist MND patients by providing equipment and home modifications based on their clients’ needs.
• Speech and Language Therapy: As motor neuron disease progresses, it can have a significant impact on MND patients’ speech, swallowing, and communication abilities. 
• Medications: Though there is no standard treatment for MNDs, the FDA has approved Riluzole for ALS treatment. Clinical studies have revealed that patients who took this medication lived 10% longer than those who did not.

Before taking this medication, you should consult with your neurologist. Riluzole cannot repair motor neuron damage. As a result, it cannot cure MND. It can, however, extend survival. Its precise mechanism is unknown. Riluzole, on the other hand, suppresses glutamate, which is toxic to cells in excess amounts. Its anti-glutamate function may prevent motor neuron damage and prolong survival in some MND patients. However, its role must be investigated further.

• Stem Cell Therapy: This is one of the most highly researched regenerative treatment methods for motor neuron disease in India.
• Gene Therapy: Another upcoming motor neuron disease treatment in India is Gene therapy. It is being used to either destroy or slow the progression of motor neurons. It is currently being tested in ALS mouse models. Human clinical trials are currently underway to assess its efficacy.

What is the Cost of Motor Neuron Diseases Treatment in India?

The average cost of Motor Neuron Diseases Treatment in India starts from USD 4000. There is currently no known treatment for MND. The major goal of treatment is to extend the patient’s life and make sure they have a comfortable life. In India, a range of these treatments is accessible. Each patient receives a unique treatment regimen based on the type of MND they have. We now know that there is no known treatment for MND. On the other hand, prompt treatment increases the affected person’s life expectancy. There is a tonne of evidence demonstrating how effective various treatments are even though there is no information available on the overall success rate of MND treatment in India.

In India, MND is quite accurately diagnosed. In addition, surgical treatment for ALS patients who require it was demonstrated to reduce symptoms in 90% of individuals who underwent surgery.

How do I Select a Hospital in India for MND Treatment Care?

The best MND Surgery Hospitals in India that performed body and facial modification for patients are renowned for their warmth and attentiveness to their needs. These facilities are available to some of India’s top neurosurgeons who are experts in their professions. For an international patient, selecting a good hospital for treatment might be challenging. It is a critical choice that needs to be made while keeping a number of things in mind, such as: 

• Accreditations and certifications for excellence
• Location of the hospital and the transit hub
• A medical and surgical team
• Modern diagnostic and treatment tools
• Overseas medical help