The six early warning signs of motor neurone disease you should NEVER ignore – after Aussie children’s TV star Fiona MacDonald’s death aged 67

Former children’s TV star Fiona MacDonald’s death just three years after she was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease has renewed calls for Aussies to watch out for early signs of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Ms MacDonald, 67, announced her own death via a powerful social media post on Thursday after refusing further treatment due to the torment of the unrelenting symptoms.

‘Farewell my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building – Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud,’ her statement read.

She was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2021 but had noticed her speech starting to slur, especially when she was tired.

The symptom is one of the early warning signs for MND, which damages the nervous system over time which results in difficulties in walking, speaking and breathing as the condition progresses.

It’s not fully understood what causes the rare neurological disease and there are no effective treatments to halt its cruel march. 

What is known is that more than 2,300 Aussies are living with MND at any one time.

Around two Aussies are either diagnosed or die from the condition every day.

 The odds of being diagnosed are about one in 300 with the risk increasing with age.

Daily Mail Australia breaks down the early warning signs of MND.

Muscle twitching 

Muscle twitches and cramps are among the early signs of MND.

This can also feel like a rippling sensation under the skin, according to Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).  

However, twitching by itself is not usually associated with neurological conditions like MND unless you have other symptoms present, the charity explains. 

It can also happen with tiredness, stress, viral infection or general ill health. 

Some tremors and twitches are normal and can be caused by caffeine, stress and age.

Extreme tiredness

The condition can make you feel lethargic and very tired. 

MND is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones.

These cells gradually stop working over time, but it’s not known why this happens.

However, MNDA says fatigue usually happens once other symptoms of MND become more obvious. 

The Queensland-born presenter, who hosted It’s A Knockout and kids’ show Wombat in the 1980s, had refused further treatment due to the torment of the unrelenting symptoms

Weakness in the ankles or legs 

Tripping, falling and finding it harder to climb the stairs can be a sign of MND. 

That’s because the condition can causes muscle weakness in your ankles and legs. 

When a muscle gets weaker it usually reduces in size, also known as wasting.

‘Foot drop’ can be an early symptom of MND, where one foot sometimes feels weak or drags, according to MNDA. 

But it’s important to remember this could also be caused by an injury or another condition, but it should still be checked out by your GP. 

Weak or stiff hands 

Dropping things due to having weak or stiff hands, could be a warning sign you have a neurological problem. 

Just as it causes weakness in the ankles and legs, MND can cause you to have a weak grip, making it harder to open jars, do up buttons and even hold objects, the NHS stated. 

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 her speech slurring when she was tired, an early warning sign

The former TV presenter (pictured on It’s a Knockout) was one of the two people who die from MND in Australia every day. More than 2,300 thought to be fighting the disease at any one time

Slurred speech 

Slurred speech is an early warning sign of MND and was one of the first symptoms MacDonald noticed before she was diagnosed in 2021.

‘I noticed in July that I was having trouble speaking clearly, particularly if I was tired,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2023. 

‘I ignored this for a while but realised it could be something sinister… everything was looked at until finally, they came to the terrible conclusion that it could only be motor neurone disease.’

Those with MND suffer from weak muscles in the face, mouth, tongue or throat.  

This can also cause difficulty in swallowing food, the NHS adds. 

It can also affect the volume of your speech, according to MNDA. 

The charity explains that faint speech can happen if you feel breathless and cannot support the volume of your speech. 

Emotional outbursts  

The condition doesn’t just affect the muscles, but your mind too. 

Because it is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones, 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 yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations, the NHS explains. 

For most people these changes are mild and do not severely impact their daily life.