Motor Neuron Disease (MND) classifies a group of disorders that affect muscle activity. Motor neurons, which are responsible for transmitting signals from the nervous system to muscles, are impaired in this class of disorders. Motor neuron impairment can cause problems in tasks involving muscle function such as walking, swallowing and breathing. These diseases are degenerative and the extent of symptoms associated with MND varies, as does age of onset, prognosis, and the risk of fatality.

The NINDS Repository MND collection includes biomaterials from subjects with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Progressive Muscular Atrophy, Primary Lateral Sclerosis and Progressive Bulbar Palsy. The Repository also banks subjects with MNDs that have known genetic causes, including Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (Kennedy’s Disease) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Also included in the collection are unaffected ("At Risk") and affected blood relatives of subjects, spouses (spousal controls), and normal healthy individuals (including population and convenience controls).

• Samples by diagnosis
• Samples by family
• Motor Neuron Disease Fibroblast Samples
• Mutations that cause Motor Neuron Diseases
• Motor Neuron Diseases subjects that tested wild-type for known genes
• Samples in DNA Panels
• Unaffected primary blood relatives of individuals with Motor Neuron Diseases
• Download Phenotypic Data      
• Acknowledgement Guidelines

• Material Transfer Agreement  
• Statement of Research Intent  

• Required Clinical Data Elements for subjects with Motor Neuron Diseases(CDEs)     
• Clinical Data Elements (CDEs) for Motor Neuron Diseases Data Dictionary  
• Clinical Data Elements (CDEs) for Controls      
• Clinical Data Elements (CDEs) for Controls Data Dictionary  

References for ALS Criteria

• Airlie House Guidelines Therapeutic Trials in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• El Escorial World Federation of Neurology Criteria for the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects
• ALS-PLS Research Foundation
• ALS Association
• Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• International Alliance for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Kennedy's Disease Association
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• National Organization for Rare Disorders
• NINDS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Information Page
• NINDS Motor Neuron Diseases Information Page
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy Net
• World Federation of Neurology Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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