When neuromuscular disorders become stars.

Abstract

This retrospective study identified 125 audio-visual works from cinema and television, including films, TV series, and documentaries, depicting neuromuscular disorders since 1910. Motor neuron disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), had the highest representation (69.3%), followed by myopathies (20%). The predominant genre was documentary (48%), which offered more factual representation than fictional works. ALS was overrepresented due to its dramatic nature and association with notable figures, including the American baseball player Lou Gehrig and British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking; other neuromuscular disorders, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, were depicted less frequently. Despite inaccuracies in some portrayals, these works raise public awareness and contribute to a greater understanding of rare diseases, such as neuromuscular disorders, among the general public.