SPINAL and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease, is a rare and currently incurable and non-treatable genetic neuro-muscular disease.

It is named after W.R. Kennedy, an American neurologist who was among the first to describe the disease.

According to the US-based Kennedy's Association website (www.kennedysdisease.org), it causes muscle weakness and wasting throughout the body, and is most noticeable in the arms, legs, face and throat.

In many cases, the disease is misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for years.

Sufferers may experience speech and swallowing difficulties, and major muscle cramps.

The symptoms usually appear in adulthood between the ages of 30 and 50.

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Dec 20, 2008.

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