Principles for nursing practice: Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease

[Extract] While Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor neurone disease (MND) are distinct diseases in themselves, they have several characteristics in common, including the need for physical and supportive care as the disease progresses. All three diseases are neurodegenerative, progressive disorders of motor function accompanied by some non-motor symptoms, including some sensory function deficits in MS and PD. In all three, people may present with weakness and mobility related symptoms, necessitating careful diagnostic testing and treatment of symptoms over time before a probable diagnosis can be made. Families report this time as a stressful and often frustrating period of indecision while they await a probable diagnosis.