What is Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy (DBMD)?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in children. In the absence of newborn screening, DMD is usually diagnosed when a child is 3 to 6 years of age. Early signs include delay in walking, frequent falling, and difficulty getting up from a sitting or lying position. Muscle deterioration continues to progress and, around the time they are 12 years of age, children with DMD become unable to walk. The disease is usually fatal in the teens or early 20s, most commonly due to severe respiratory or heart problems, or both.
