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Studies A-Z > A > Analysis of Physical Activity in the Development of MND
Research summary
In motor neurone disease (MND), damage to the nervous system causes progressive limb weakness and difficulty with speech, swallowing and, ultimately, breathing. The causes of MND are currently unknown, though complex interactions between an individual's genetic make-up and various environmental and lifestyle factors are thought to be the most likely explanation.
Recent reports suggesting a higher incidence of MND in professional sports people have led to speculation of a relationship between physical activity (PA) and the development of MND. This is supported by hypotheses regarding the underlying damaging processes involved in the development of MND.
However, definitive evidence of such an association is lacking, with previous studies limited by methodological problems and conflicting results. Therefore, we plan to perform a study to investigate whether the amount of PA undertaken in the past by patients with MND is different to the PA undertaken by healthy volunteers.
A novel interview-administered PA questionnaire, which collects data regarding adulthood PA in the home, work, transport and exercise, has been designed and validated. This questionnaire will be used to interview 364 people with MND and 728 matched controls without MND. PA data collected from each individual using the questionnaire will be quantified by the amount of energy expended. This data will be analysed using statistical methods to look for differences in PA in the past between cases and controls and therefore determine any association between previous PA and MND.