Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

•  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy symptoms typically appear before age 6 (Board 1). These symptoms can include fatigue, mental retardation, muscle weakness, frequent falls, difficulty with motor skills and progressive difficulty of walking.
• This genetic disorder is caused by a defective gene in a muscle protein called dystrophin. This disease is inheritable and most often affects males because of the way this disease is inherited.
• There is no known cure for this disorder. Even treatment does not ensure any long-lived life. Most often, any treatment done is aimed at controlling symptoms in order to maximize the quality of life. Additionally, activity to help strengthen the muscles is encouraged.
• This disease leads to quickly worsening disability. “Death usually occurs by age 23, typically from lung disorders” (Board 1).