The six early warning signs of motor neurone disease you should NEVER ignore, after rugby hero Rob Burrow's tragic death aged just 41 Muscle twitches and a weak grip are among the early signs of MND, experts say READ MORE: Inside Rob Burrow's five-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease By Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline Published: 05:57 EDT, 3 June 2024 | Updated: 09:23 EDT, 3 June 2024 e-mail 141 shares 272 View comments The first symptom for rugby legend Rob Burrow was slurred speech, which hit while he was attending an awards show. Within weeks, the otherwise fit and healthy athlete had been giving the crushing news that he had motor neurone disease (MND). Burrow, father to daughters Macy and Maya, and son Jackson, died this week after a five-year long battle with the incurable condition, having devoted his final years campaigning for better awareness.
MND is a rare neurological condition that damages the nervous system over time, resulting in difficulties walking, speaking and breathing as the condition progresses. It's not fully understood why it occurs and there are no effective treatments to halt its cruel march. Around 5,000 adults in the UK have MND and there is a one in 300 risk of developing the condition over the course of a person's life.
Here, MailOnline breaks down the early warning signs of the fatal condition...
Rob Burrow opened up about his battle with motor neurone disease in an ITV documentary Lindsey and Rob: Living with MND Burrow playing for the Leeds.
