Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a terminal neurological condition characterised by degeneration of the CNS networks that control movement. In spite of concerted efforts by the medical research community, there remains no cure for this disease. Drugs designed to modify the progression of the disease have a poor success rate (<1%). This may be due to the fact that there are sub-types of MND that cause degeneration in different brain networks. In order to achieve the highest possible quality of life for those with MND, it is desirable that the sub-type can be identified at the time of initial diagnosis, so that the clinical care pathway is optimal for that person. Our aim is to establish whether a relatively simple test of CNS function – the decrease in total grip force that occurs when all fingers are engaged simultaneously, can serve as a suitable marker for the differentiation of MND sub-types.
