Liputan6.com, Jakarta Former England rugby team captain and 2003 World Cup winner, Lewis Moody, has announced his diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
He delivered the shocking news on Monday, October 6, 2025, two weeks after receiving the diagnosis.
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At 47 years old, Moody revealed that the diagnosis was "very difficult to process" and a "huge shock" for him and his family.
His initial symptoms included muscle wasting in his hands and shoulders, which he first noticed while working out at the gym.
Despite this, Lewis Moody stated that he feels "fit and healthy" and is focused on remaining positive in the face of the upcoming changes.
The scans revealed that nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), one of the most common forms of MND.
Lewis Moody's case also highlights a 2022 study that found an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases among former rugby players, with the risk of an MND diagnosis 15 times higher than the general population.
What is Motor Neurone Disease?
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders that affect motor neurons.
These motor neurons are vital nerve cells responsible for controlling the body's voluntary muscles that allow us to move, swallow, speak, and breathe.
In people with MND, these motor neurons stop functioning properly and die prematurely, a process known as neurodegeneration.
According to the NHS UK, There are several main types of MND, such as:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): The most common form, affecting both upper and lower motor neurons, causing rapid loss of muscle control.
- Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP): Primarily affecting the muscles of the face, throat, and tongue, causing slurred speech and difficulty swallowing.
- Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA): Affects only lower motor neurons, starting with weakness in the hands and then spreading.
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS): Affects only upper motor neurons, often starting in the legs, and is the slowest-progressing form of MND.
What are the Symptoms Causes of MND?
As reported by NHS UK, symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) may include weakness in the feet or ankles that causes frequent stumbling, or weakness in the hands that makes it difficult to hold objects.
Additionally, sufferers may experience muscle stiffness, cramps, or twitching (fasciculations), as well as difficulty speaking (dysarthria) or swallowing (dysphagia).
Extreme fatigue, muscle wasting, and emotional changes such as inappropriate laughing or crying can also happens.
Respiratory muscles also weaken, causing difficulty breathing, and up to 50% of sufferers may experience cognitive, language, or behavioral changes, or even frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The exact cause of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Most cases of MND are sporadic, meaning they occur without a family history of the disease, and scientists suspect this is due to the accumulation of many small risk factors, including subtle genetic and environmental influences.
Genetic factors also play a significant role, with approximately 1 in 10 people with MND having a family history of the condition (familial MND).
Treatment and Life Expectancy for MND
Currently, there is no cure for Motor Neurone Disease (MND), but various treatments are available to help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Treatment for MND involves a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of healthcare professionals, including neurologists, respiratory specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and nutritionists.
Medications such as Riluzole can help slow the progression of ALS and PBP, with studies showing an average survival extension of 2 to 3 months.
Other medications such as Edaravone (RADICAVA®) have also been tested, and medications for specific symptoms such as muscle stiffness, excessive salivation, and shortness of breath are also prescribed.
The average life expectancy for ALS is 2 to 5 years after diagnosis, although approximately 20% of people with ALS live beyond five years.