What is Muscular Dystrophy?
A muscular dystrophy is a group of neuromuscular diseases that affect the muscles. Symptoms may include difficulty moving, breathing, and eating. There is no known cure for muscular dystrophy, but treatments can help improve symptoms.
Types of Muscular Dystrophy?
There are three types of muscular dystrophy: Duchenne, Becker, and Muscular Dystrophy Type I. Each type is characterized by a specific set of symptoms.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common type of muscular dystrophy and is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy typically experience muscle weakness and wasting first before they develop other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and walking. Becker muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the BCNU gene, and people with this type of muscular dystrophy typically experience muscle weakness starting in their late teens or early twenties. Muscular Dystrophy Type I is the least common type of muscular dystrophy and is caused by a mutation in the MYH7 gene. People with Muscular Dystrophy Type I typically experience muscle weakness that starts in their early adulthood.
Symptoms and Causes of Muscular Dystrophy?
A muscular dystrophy is a group of neuromuscular diseases that affect the muscles. Symptoms can vary from person to person, but they usually include difficulty moving and breathing, weakness, and pain. There is no known cause for muscular dystrophy, but it is thought to be caused by problems with the myosin protein in the muscle cells. Myosin is responsible for contractility (the ability of a muscle to shorten or lengthen), so a deficiency in myosin can lead to weakness and muscle loss. There are several types of muscular dystrophy, but the most common is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for myosin, and boys are more likely than girls to develop it. The symptoms of DMD typically start developing during childhood, and most people die from the disease before their 40th birthday. There is currently no cure for DMD, but there are treatments that can help people live longer lives.
