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Motor neuron disease is a clinically heterogeneous disease with significant differences in survival. The authors have characterised a subset of long term survivors seen in a tertiary clinic over a 12 year period in terms of clinical variables and demographics, comparing them with short term survivors and the remaining population. Thirty of 769 patients survived more than 10 years, corresponding to 4% of the total population. Significantly younger onset of disease symptoms and a predominance of pure upper motor neuron signs at presentation characterised the long term survivors, but factors traditionally regarded as being associated with poor prognosis were also well represented. For a few people with motor neuron disease there remains the hope, whatever the initial presentation, that their subsequent survival will be longer than expected.

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

Publication Date

07/2003

Volume

74

Pages

995 - 997

Keywords

Adult, Age of Onset, Aged, Cohort Studies, Databases, Factual, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Neuron Disease, Prognosis, Risk Factors, Survival