The six early warning signs of motor neurone disease you should NEVER ignore – after Aussie children’s TV star Fiona MacDonald’s death aged 67

By William On Oct 3, 2024

The death of former children’s TV star Fiona MacDonald, just three years after she was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, has renewed calls for Aussies to look out for early signs of the neurodegenerative condition.

Ms MacDonald, 67, announced her own death in a powerful social media post on Thursday after refusing further treatment due to the agony of persistent symptoms.

‘Goodbye my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I left the building. Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud,” her statement read.

She was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2021, but noticed her speech was starting to become slurred, especially when she was tired.

The symptom is one of the early warning signs for MND, which over time damages the nervous system, resulting in difficulty walking, speaking and breathing as the condition progresses.

It is not yet fully understood what causes the rare neurological disease and there are no effective treatments to stop its vicious advance.

What is known is that there are more than 2,300 Aussies living with MND at any given time.

About two Aussies are diagnosed or die from the condition every day.

Former Australian TV star Fiona MacDonald (pictured with her sons) died earlier this week at the age of 67, almost three years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease

The chance of being diagnosed is about one in 300, with the risk increasing with age.

Daily Mail Australia debunks the early warning signs of MND.

Muscle twitching

Muscle twitching and cramps are among the first signs of MND.

According to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), this can also feel like a wavy feeling under the skin.

However, tremors in themselves are not usually associated with neurological conditions such as MND unless you have other symptoms, the charity explains.

It can also happen with fatigue, stress, viral infection or general poor health.

Some tremors and jerks are normal and can be caused by caffeine, stress and age.

Extreme fatigue

The condition can make you feel lethargic and very tired.

MND is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurons.

These cells gradually stop working over time, but it is not known why this happens.

However, MNDA says that fatigue usually occurs once other symptoms of MND become more apparent.

WHAT IS MOTOR NEURON DISEASE?

Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that mainly affects people between the ages of 60 and 70, but can also affect adults of all ages.

It is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurons. These cells gradually stop working. It is not known why this happens.

If you have a close relative with motor neurone disease, or a related condition called frontotemporal dementia, this can sometimes mean you are more likely to develop this condition. But in most cases it does not run in families.

Early symptoms may include weakness in your ankle or leg, such as finding it difficult to walk upstairs; slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, a weak grip and gradual weight loss.

If you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor. They will consider other possible conditions and may refer you to a specialist called a neurologist if necessary.

If a close relative has motor neuron disease or frontotemporal dementia and you are concerned that you are at risk for it, they can refer you to a genetic counselor to talk about your risk and any tests you may have.

The Queensland-born presenter, who hosted It’s A Knockout and children’s show Wombat in the 1980s, had refused further treatment due to the agony of persistent symptoms.

Weakness in the ankles or legs

Stumbling, falling, and finding it harder to climb stairs can be a sign of ALS.

That’s because the condition can cause muscle weakness in your ankles and legs.

When a muscle becomes weaker, it usually becomes smaller, also called ‘wasting’.

According to MNDA, foot drop can be an early symptom of MND, with one foot sometimes feeling weak or dragging.

But it’s important to remember that this could also be caused by an injury or other condition, but should still be checked by your GP.

Weak or stiff hands

Dropping things because you have weak or stiff hands could be a warning sign that you have a neurological problem.

Just as it causes weakness in the ankles and legs, MND can cause you to have a weak grip, making it harder to open jars, button buttons and even hold objects, according to the NHS.

However, stiff hands or a weak grip can also be an indication of age-related joint problems or a pinched nerve.

Ms MacDonald (pictured in 2004) was diagnosed with the incurable disease in 2021 after noticing slurred speech when tired, an early warning sign

The former TV presenter (pictured on It’s a Knockout) was one of two people dying every day from ALS in Australia. More than 2,300 people were thought to be battling the disease at the same time

Unclear speech

Slurred speech is an early warning sign of ALS and was one of the first symptoms MacDonald noticed before she was diagnosed in 2021.

“I noticed in July that I was having difficulty speaking clearly, especially when I was tired,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.

‘I ignored this for a while but realized it could be something more sinister… everything was looked at until they finally came to the terrible conclusion that it could only be motor neurone disease.’

People with MND suffer from weak muscles in the face, mouth, tongue or throat.

This can also cause problems swallowing food, the NHS adds.

According to MNDA, it can also affect the volume of your speech.

The charity explains that weak speech can occur when you feel out of breath and cannot support the volume of your speech.

Emotional outbursts

The condition not only affects the muscles, but also your mind.

Because it is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurons, it can also change the way you behave and think.

According to MNDA, up to half of people diagnosed with MND experience these changes.

It can make it harder to avoid crying or laughing in inappropriate situations, the NHS explains.

For most people, these changes are mild and do not seriously affect their daily lives.