At any one time, more than 5,000 people in the UK are living with MND. An estimated six new cases are diagnosed each day, and a similar number die from MND each day, potentially 2,200 annually.^9,13

MND is more common in people in the 50-65 years age group, but it can occur in adults at any age. There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 300 of developing MND, but with a lower frequency in people of South or East Asian origin.^5,6,9,13

The disease kills a third of people within a year of diagnosis, and more than half within two years. Only a quarter of people with MND survive 5 years and 10% survive 10 years or more.^9.13

Life expectancy for ALS is typically 2-5 years from symptom onset, whereas PBP life expectancy is between six months and three years. With PMA, life expectancy is usually more than five years. Prognosis for PLS is longer at 10-15 years or possibly not even life-shortening.^2,9,11

Survival can often be longer in younger people, which may help partly explain Professor Stephen Hawking living for 55 years after his diagnosis aged 21.^14,15