Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association is the only national organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland dedicated to the support of people with MND and those who care for them. The MND Association is a charity working to help people with MND secure the care and support they need, while promoting research into causes, treatments and a cure.

The Parkinson's Disease Society is the leading charity dedicated to supporting all people with Parkinson's, their families, friends and carers

The MS Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - about 85,000 people in the UK.

The Alzheimer's Society is committed to defeating dementia through research. Our programme has three themes - cause, cure and care. The search for cause and cure gives us hope for the future, while research on care ensures that we are delivering the best help for the present.

Headway - the charity that supports people with a brain injury and those who care for them.

The HDA is a UK registered charity which supports people affected by Huntington's disease (HD). We also provide information and advice to families, friends and health care professionals whose task it is to support Huntington's disease families

Aiming to Improve the Lives of People with MND Every year more than 120 people are diagnosed with MND in Scotland. More than 105,000 people are diagnosed world-wide. MND is a fatal illness with no cure and the Association is dedicated to help improve the lives of people affected by the illness through a variety of supportive services.

The Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) was formed in 1989 by families living with the disease. In 1992 the first part-time professional advisor was employed, funded by Mental Illness Specific Grant, to identify need in Lothian. Evidence was unequivocal; the needs of families living with this devastating disease were overwhelming. Families were excluded from society: the health and social impact of the disease was devastating. In 16 years and following a considerable amount of hard work from families and professional staff, the Association has grown significantly and manages 35 staff throughout Scotland providing expert care to families living primarily in their own homes. Just as importantly, support is offered by families for families via a network of local family support groups.

The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association functions mainly as a support organisation for people who have MND, their carers and families. This work entails home visiting by our MND nurse specialists, financial assistance towards home help and supply of specialised equipment on loan to patients. The association also supports research into the causes and treatment of Motor Neurone Disease.

brainstrust is working in partnership with the National Hospital Development Foundation to sustain and develop clinical practice at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery and with the University of Portsmouth, to support laboratory-based research and translational medicine.