Twitching, tremors and muscle cramps, progressing to weakness and wasting in the legs, trunk, arms, shoulders, neck and face.

These are the debilitating effects of spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease, which dramatically affects one's walking, speech and swallowing, usually over a long period of time.

The genetic disease, which affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement, is often misdiagnosed as Lou Gehrig's disease.

A patient can choke on food when the muscles controlling swallowing weaken. He can also find it hard to smile or express emotions when facial muscles are affected.

Walking and climbing stairs also become increasingly challenging and eventually, one may need to rely on a wheelchair.