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The death of former children’s television star Fiona MacDonald just three years after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease has renewed calls for Australians to watch out for the early signs of the neurodegenerative disorder.
MacDonald, 67, announced his own death through a powerful social media post on Thursday after refusing further treatment due to the torment of unrelenting symptoms.
‘Goodbye my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I left the building. Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud,” his statement read.
She was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2021, but noticed her speech was starting to slur, especially when she was tired.
The symptom is one of the first warning signs of MND, which damages the nervous system over time, causing difficulties with walking, talking and breathing as the condition progresses.
What causes this rare neurological disease is not fully understood and there are no effective treatments to stop its cruel march.
What is known is that more than 2,300 Australians are living with MND at any given time.
Around two Australians are diagnosed or die from the condition every day.
Former Australian TV star Fiona MacDonald (pictured with her children) died earlier this week aged 67, almost three years after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The odds of being diagnosed are approximately one in 300, and the risk increases with age.
Daily Mail Australia looks at the early warning signs of MNE.
muscle contractions
Muscle spasms and cramps are among the first signs of NMD.
This may also feel like a rippling sensation under the skin, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
However, spasms alone are not usually associated with neurological conditions such as MND, unless you have other symptoms present, the charity explains.
It can also occur with fatigue, stress, viral infection or general poor health.
Some tremors and twitches are normal and can be caused by caffeine, stress, and age.
extreme tiredness
This condition can make you feel lethargic and very tired.
MND is caused by a problem with brain and nerve cells called motor neurons.
These cells gradually stop working over time, but it is not known why this happens.
However, the MNDA says that fatigue usually occurs once other symptoms of MND become more obvious.
The Queensland-born presenter, who presented It’s A Knockout and children’s show Wombat in the 1980s, refused treatment due to the torment of unrelenting symptoms.
Weakness in the ankles or legs.
Tripping, falling, and having more difficulty climbing stairs can be a sign of MND.
This is because the condition can cause muscle weakness in the ankles and legs.
When a muscle weakens, it usually reduces in size, also known as atrophy.
“Foot drop” can be an early symptom of MND, where a foot sometimes feels weak or drags, according to MNDA.
But it is important to remember that this could also be due to an injury or other condition, but should still be examined by your GP.
Weak or stiff hands
Dropping things due to weak or stiff hands could be a warning sign that you have a neurological problem.
As well as causing weakness in the ankles and legs, MND can cause a weak grip, making it difficult to open jars, fasten buttons and even hold objects, the NHS said.
However, stiff hands or a weak grip can also be an indication of age-related joint problems or a trapped nerve.
Ms MacDonald (pictured in 2004) was diagnosed with the incurable disease in 2021 after noticing she slurred her speech when tired – an early warning sign.
The former TV presenter (pictured on It’s a Knockout) was one of two people dying from MND in Australia every day. More than 2,300 people are believed to be fighting the disease at any given time.
slurred speech
Slurred speech is an early warning sign of MND and was one of the first symptoms MacDonald noticed before being diagnosed in 2021.
“In July I realized I was having trouble speaking clearly, especially if I was tired,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.
“I ignored it for a while, but I realized it could be something sinister… everything was examined until they finally came to the terrible conclusion that it could only be motor neurone disease.”
People with MND experience weakness in the muscles of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat.
This can also cause difficulty swallowing food, the NHS adds.
It can also affect the volume of your speech, according to MNDA.
The charity explains that weak speech can occur if you feel breathless and cannot handle the volume of your speech.
emotional outbursts
The condition not only affects the muscles, but also the mind.
Because it is caused by a problem with brain cells and nerves called motor neurons, it can also change the way you behave and think.
In fact, up to half of people diagnosed with MND experience these changes, according to MNDA.
It can make it harder to stop crying or laughing in inappropriate situations, explains the NHS.
For most people, these changes are mild and do not seriously affect their daily life.
