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Home / Critical illness cover / - Motor Neurone Disease
Definition
Confirmation by a Consultant Neurologist of a definite diagnosis of Motor Neurone disease.
What does this mean?
Motor Neurone disease causes a rapid deterioration of the motor neurones. These are the nerve cells in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord, which are responsible for the movement of the body. The disease advances quite quickly and leads to severe disability and death usually within three to four years. Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can alter the outcome of this serious condition.
NEWS
'Gene therapy helps restore sight'
28 April 2008 17:45:54
The news that scientists have successfully treated a patient with an inherited disease which causes blindness, may affect the life insurance policies of other sufferers of the condition.
Researchers from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL) and Moorfields Eye Hospital carried out gene therapy trials on patients suffering from Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), which causes progressive deterioration in sight and can lead to blindness in teenagers.
Their work included inserting genes into patients' eyes to correct a faulty gene, known as RPE65, which stops the light sensitive cells in the retina from working properly.
Three patients involved in the trial have experienced vision equal to that before the treatment while one patient has benefited significantly from the therapy.
Professor Robin Ali who led the research said: "Showing for the first time that gene therapy can work in patients with eye disease is a very significant milestone.
"This trial establishes proof of principle of gene therapy for inherited retinal disease and paves the way for the development of gene therapy approaches for a broad range of eye disorders."
Please click here for advice on UK life insurance, life insurance policies and a life insurance quote
Cancer drug hailed as 'potentially the most significant advance' in 70 years
22 July 2008 16:45:20
A new drug used to treat aggressive prostrate cancer has been hailed as "potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years".
Abiraterone works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer and could be available to treat 80 per cent of patients, with and without life insurance policies, within two to three years.
The Institute of Cancer Research ran an advanced clinical trial which has involved 1,200 patients from around the globe and plans further trials later in the year.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21 patients with advanced, aggressive prostate cancer that have been treated with the drug experienced tumour shrinkage, and a drop in the levels of a key protein produced by the cancer.
Dr Johann de Bono, lead researcher of the trial warned, however, that larger trials were needed to confirm the findings.
He also said that at the moment the effect that the drug had on the life expectancy of cancer patients was not yet known.
However, he did say that the research believe they have "made a major step forward in the treatment of end-stage prostate cancer patients".
UK life insurance policy holders may be interested in news on the latest cancer treatments.
Cancer increase makes critical illness cover vital
14 June 2007 15:21:51
The importance of taking out comprehensive critical illness cover has been outlined by the rising incidence of prostate cancer in the UK.
The Institute of Cancer Research has confirmed that prostate cancer is now the most common male cancer, having overtaken lung cancer as more and more Britons quit smoking.
According to a spokesperson, the need for critical illness insurance and regular health checks is essential, with "more than 32,000 men being diagnosed each year and around 10,000 men dying from the disease."
The research organisation said that greater awareness of prostate cancer is needed to aid early detection of the illness and to "break down taboos".
"A recent survey by the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign found that men are less keen to talk about their health than women," the spokesperson said.
"The survey found that nearly one-third of men questioned would be too embarrassed to speak to their male friends about their prostate cancer concerns and only one in ten thought men were as informed about male health issues as women are about female health."
28 April 2008 17:45:54
The news that scientists have successfully treated a patient with an inherited disease which causes blindness, may affect the life insurance policies of other sufferers of the condition.
Researchers from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL) and Moorfields Eye Hospital carried out gene therapy trials on patients suffering from Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), which causes progressive deterioration in sight and can lead to blindness in teenagers.
Their work included inserting genes into patients' eyes to correct a faulty gene, known as RPE65, which stops the light sensitive cells in the retina from working properly.
Three patients involved in the trial have experienced vision equal to that before the treatment while one patient has benefited significantly from the therapy.
Professor Robin Ali who led the research said: "Showing for the first time that gene therapy can work in patients with eye disease is a very significant milestone.
"This trial establishes proof of principle of gene therapy for inherited retinal disease and paves the way for the development of gene therapy approaches for a broad range of eye disorders."
Please click here for advice on UK life insurance, life insurance policies and a life insurance quote
22 July 2008 16:45:20
A new drug used to treat aggressive prostrate cancer has been hailed as "potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years".
Abiraterone works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer and could be available to treat 80 per cent of patients, with and without life insurance policies, within two to three years.
The Institute of Cancer Research ran an advanced clinical trial which has involved 1,200 patients from around the globe and plans further trials later in the year.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21 patients with advanced, aggressive prostate cancer that have been treated with the drug experienced tumour shrinkage, and a drop in the levels of a key protein produced by the cancer.
Dr Johann de Bono, lead researcher of the trial warned, however, that larger trials were needed to confirm the findings.
He also said that at the moment the effect that the drug had on the life expectancy of cancer patients was not yet known.
However, he did say that the research believe they have "made a major step forward in the treatment of end-stage prostate cancer patients".
UK life insurance policy holders may be interested in news on the latest cancer treatments.
14 June 2007 15:21:51
The importance of taking out comprehensive critical illness cover has been outlined by the rising incidence of prostate cancer in the UK.
The Institute of Cancer Research has confirmed that prostate cancer is now the most common male cancer, having overtaken lung cancer as more and more Britons quit smoking.
According to a spokesperson, the need for critical illness insurance and regular health checks is essential, with "more than 32,000 men being diagnosed each year and around 10,000 men dying from the disease."
The research organisation said that greater awareness of prostate cancer is needed to aid early detection of the illness and to "break down taboos".
"A recent survey by the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign found that men are less keen to talk about their health than women," the spokesperson said.
"The survey found that nearly one-third of men questioned would be too embarrassed to speak to their male friends about their prostate cancer concerns and only one in ten thought men were as informed about male health issues as women are about female health."