Simon Downes was diagnosed with the disease in 2024 after running a dairy farm in NSW's Hunter Valley for more than 30 years. "Our hypothesis is that it's to do with the co-location of the population and agriculture," Prof Rowe said. He is calling for MND to be a notifiable disease, meaning cases must be reported to public health authorities by law. Prof Rowe said. If the causes of the disease could be identified, methods could be developed to help slow or stop its progression, or prevent it entirely, Prof Rowe said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 30, 2026 01:31 UTC