Kennedy's Disease UK Information

We are the only UK based charity for Kennedy’s Disease (KD); a non-profit organisation run by volunteers and sufferers. We realise that more is needed to help raise the awareness of this awful disease and we want to make sure that people out there hear about Kennedy’s Disease and the effect it has on sufferers, carers, family and friends. There is only one centre carrying out vital research in the UK and we hope that our efforts will help them to find a cure for the disease. Kennedy’s Disease, or X-linked motor neuron disease, is a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder also known as X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuropathy or X-linked spinal and bulbar atrophy. It is an adult onset, progressive disorder, characterised by the degeneration of lower motor neurons within the spinal cord and brainstem. This causes progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles particularly in the arms and legs. Although the disorder predominantly affects males, it can only be passed on through female carriers of the gene. As the mutation is on the X chromosome, the disease affects males as they have only one X chromosome. For female carriers, it is possible that their sons may get the disease, and their daughters may become carriers. Sons of affected males do not get the disease since the male does not pass on his X chromosome. It is estimated that 1 in 40,000 people have this genetic defect and because it is relatively rare, Kennedy’s Disease is often initially misdiagnosed or goes undiagnosed for years. There is no cure for Kennedy’s disease and no current treatment available.