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About the LONDC

Sitting at the intersection of research, clinical care, patient advocacy, and industry innovation, the American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) observed a need to better serve those living with late-onset neuromuscular diseases (LONDs) by bringing the community together and fostering collaboration to improve care, education, and quality of life. This is the rationale for establishing the Late-Onset Neuromuscular Disease Consortium (LONDC).

The LONDC is designed to drive progress by:

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Identifying common challenges, needs, and opportunities across conditions

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Facilitating collaboration among multiple stakeholders

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Establishing community-wide goals and strategies

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Providing a forum to share updates and progress

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Supplementing work underway by community stakeholders

During the LONDC’s inaugural meeting, participants prioritized five potential projects based on identified needs. The LONDC Steering Committee selected the Common Experience Research and Awareness Campaign as the first project.

The Common Experience Research and Awareness Campaign

This project is designed to improve time to diagnosis for those with LONDs by identifying commonalities among LONDs to help streamline the referral pathways to neuromuscular specialists. The research phase of this project is complete. Learn more

Next, we aim to develop a physician-focused tool to aid in the recognition and referral of potential LOND cases, and a consumer-focused mnemonic to help individuals recognize early signs of LONDs and advocate for specialist care.

Learn more about the project here and stay tuned for updates!

LONDC News

Sept. 17, 2024
Project Update – Research Complete, Advancing to
Consensus Discussion!
Oct. 27, 2023
Project Plan Available: Common Experience Research and Awareness Campaign

Steering Committee

The LONDC Steering Committee consists of representatives from advocacy organizations that serve people impacted by neuromuscular conditions. Steering Committee members provide ongoing strategic direction, advocate for the LONDC and its initiatives, and oversee and drive projects forward in alignment with the Steering Committee governance.

Current Members

If you are part of an advocacy organization and are interested in becoming a Steering Committee member, complete the interest form here.

The following conditions, which typically manifest in adulthood and will be targeted by the LONDC and its initiatives, include:

  • Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculopathy (Guillain-Barré)
  • Adult spinal muscular atrophy
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Becker muscular dystrophy
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth
  • Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
  • Congenital muscular dystrophy
  • Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
  • GNE myopathy
  • Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis
  • Inclusion body myositis
  • Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
  • Late-onset Pompe disease
  • Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
  • Multifocal motor neuropathy
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2
  • Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
  • Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy’s Disease)
  • VCP Disease
Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the LONDC and its initiatives!

2024 Champions

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Supporter

Thank you to the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) for providing support for the LONDC administrative fees.

How can my organization get involved with the LONDC?

Contact us for sponsorship opportunities or to learn how your organization can participate in collaborative efforts to address unmet needs of individuals affected by late-onset neuromuscular diseases. Individuals can also help fund the ANF and LONDC by donating here.