Motor Neuron Disease:

[Roosters for ever]

Three years ago, at one of my old boys reunions, one of our lot informed us that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease or MND and had been given 3 years to live. We were all stunned and mortified at such a prognosis. In an effort to brighten up the atmosphere, I raised the issue of Professor Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed at 20 years of age and given 2 years to live. As we all know, he lasted until 2018 and died at the age of 76.
My old school mate, Michael, died from this horrific disease 12 months ago. He lasted 2 years and went from a healthy 86 kgm 79 year old, to a frail 45 kgm shell of himself, that couldn't walk, talk or swallow, (eat) He was being fed through a tube in his stomach, and the times I went and saw him in hospital, he could only communicate via a child's black board.
Since that time two first class footballers, (one in rugby league, the other Aussie Rules) have ben diagnosed with the same disease. One has already passed on, the other has only recently been diagnosed and the RL community and his club is making life as best as can possibly be for this 30 year old Father of a 12 month old baby. Even just 3 months after diagnoses, his speech is already slurred.
Approximately 2,700 to 2,800 Australians are living with MND at any given time.
Despite the longevity of Professor Hawking after diagnosis, the disease is rapidly progressive. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is approximately 2 to 3 years.
In 90% to 95% of cases, the cause is sporadic (unknown). Only 5% to 10% are familial (genetic).
The signs of the onset of the disease apparently varies. With my school mate, it was falling over and stumbling for no apparent reason. These were also the first signs with Professor Hawking. With the RL player recently diagnosed, it was paralysis in his shoulder and arm after a recent injury.

 

[Pinball1970]

Three years ago, at one of my old boys reunions, one of our lot informed us that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease or MND and had been given 3 years to live. We were all stunned and mortified at such a prognosis. In an effort to brighten up the atmosphere, I raised the issue of Professor Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed at 20 years of age and given 2 years to live. As we all know, he lasted until 2018 and died at the age of 76.
My old school mate, Michael, died from this horrific disease 12 months ago. He lasted 2 years and went from a healthy 86 kgm 79 year old, to a frail 45 kgm shell of himself, that couldn't walk, talk or swallow, (eat) He was being fed through a tube in his stomach, and the times I went and saw him in hospital, he could only communicate via a child's black board.
Since that time two first class footballers, (one in rugby league, the other Aussie Rules) have ben diagnosed with the same disease. One has already passed on, the other has only recently been diagnosed and the RL community and his club is making life as best as can possibly be for this 30 year old Father of a 12 month old baby. Even just 3 months after diagnoses, his speech is already slurred.
Approximately 2,700 to 2,800 Australians are living with MND at any given time.
Despite the longevity of Professor Hawking after diagnosis, the disease is rapidly progressive. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is approximately 2 to 3 years.
In 90% to 95% of cases, the cause is sporadic (unknown). Only 5% to 10% are familial (genetic).
The signs of the onset of the disease apparently varies. With my school mate, it was falling over and stumbling for no apparent reason. These were also the first signs with Professor Hawking. With the RL player recently diagnosed, it was paralysis in his shoulder and arm after a recent injury.

A work colleague's dad has it. You referring to Doddy Weir and Rob Andrews? RUF and RLF?
I think Doddy is still alive, Rob succumbed.

 

[Roosters for ever]

A work colleague's dad has it. You referring to Doddy Weir and Rob Andrews? RUF and RLF?
I think Doddy is still alive, Rob succumbed.

No, the two players I refer to play Rugby League and Australian Rules football.
Neale Daniher is the most prominent Aussie rules player connected with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The former Essendon player and Melbourne Demons coach was diagnosed with MND in 2013. Over a public 13-year battle, he co-founded Fight MND and spearheaded the "Big Freeze" campaign, raising over $140 million for research. Daniher passed away in May 2026.
The other is still with us and played RL with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. His name is Jai Arrow.

 

[Roosters for ever]

I have seen some articles regarding some connections between head knocks and MND.
Research indicates that repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or concussions are linked to an increased risk of MND, particularly among former professional athletes in contact sports.
The three codes of footy in Australia, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Aussie Rules, all have head knock/concussion protocols that have been implemented over the last few years. In RL, a player is taken off after any noticable head knock. Independant Doctors notify the ref for the player to be removed from the field of play for assessment, called Head Injury Assessment (HIA)
It is a mandatory, multi-stage medical protocol designed to identify, diagnose, and manage concussions, prioritizing immediate player safety.
Grade 2 assessment let's a player return after 15 minutes: Grade 1 assessment is a mandatory 11 day permanent ban from playing.

 

[Pyab]

I have seen some articles regarding some connections between head knocks and MND.
Research indicates that repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or concussions are linked to an increased risk of MND, particularly among former professional athletes in contact sports.
The three codes of footy in Australia, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Aussie Rules, all have head knock/concussion protocols that have been implemented over the last few years. In RL, a player is taken off after any noticable head knock. Independant Doctors notify the ref for the player to be removed from the field of play for assessment, called Head Injury Assessment (HIA)
It is a mandatory, multi-stage medical protocol designed to identify, diagnose, and manage concussions, prioritizing immediate player safety.
Grade 2 assessment let's a player return after 15 minutes: Grade 1 assessment is a mandatory 11 day permanent ban from playing.

i just read your post - can i offer sincere condolences for the loss of your friend, its truly a horrific condition - a colleague at work had her husband diagnosed with MND and it was horrendous on them, we were all distraught as he isn't even 60. However, in a darkly optimistic twist, it turned out to be a misdiagnosis.... i forget the name of what he actually has, it had a lot of syllables and words but her general view was that were a healthy person to be diagnosed with this, it would be life changing and horrible - BUT when put in place of the MND diagnosis they were ecstatic - he still has some major issues with mobility and energy and self reliance, but its not a death sentence..... and it wowed me, that having something so bad, but still be so much more preferable to MND was very telling as to the impact MND has....

i think head injuries are becoming far more recognised as big factors in a number of things..... my sons old football team are not allowed to header the ball until they reach a certain age and his current ruby team has big concussion protocols in place that weren't there even 5-10 years ago - a good thing i imagine, and also indictive of how we are slowly learning to with things that have long been taken as acceptable..... we are slow to learn but learn we do.

Professor Hawking was an inspiration in so many ways. what a great loss to the human race....i understand he was equipped with a crazy sense of humour and wit about his condition. another indication of his resilience and general awesomeness...

Peace and love to you.

 

[Pinball1970]

i just read your post - can i offer sincere condolences for the loss of your friend, its truly a horrific condition - a colleague at work had her husband diagnosed with MND and it was horrendous on them, we were all distraught as he isn't even 60. However, in a darkly optimistic twist, it turned out to be a misdiagnosis.... i forget the name of what he actually has, it had a lot of syllables and words but her general view was that were a healthy person to be diagnosed with this, it would be life changing and horrible - BUT when put in place of the MND diagnosis they were ecstatic - he still has some major issues with mobility and energy and self reliance, but its not a death sentence..... and it wowed me, that having something so bad, but still be so much more preferable to MND was very telling as to the impact MND has....

i think head injuries are becoming far more recognised as big factors in a number of things..... my sons old football team are not allowed to header the ball until they reach a certain age and his current ruby team has big concussion protocols in place that weren't there even 5-10 years ago - a good thing i imagine, and also indictive of how we are slowly learning to with things that have long been taken as acceptable..... we are slow to learn but learn we do.

Professor Hawking was an inspiration in so many ways. what a great loss to the human race....i understand he was equipped with a crazy sense of humour and wit about his condition. another indication of his resilience and general awesomeness...

Peace and love to you.

I would rather get cancer I think. I know Hawking said his MND actually helped him, I find that completely crazy.
His mind is what mattered so I believe him and he was an outlier in terms of the disease and in terms of his mental ability, 160/170 IQ estimated IIRC. For comparison Einstein is estimated around 160 and Von Neumann around 190, speaking to professional physicists he was the most intelligent over the last 100 years or so.
The thought of being trapped in my own body would be a fate worse than death, to me.