What is muscular dystrophy?
Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases that produce muscle weakness. Muscular dystrophies all have in common the characteristic that they involve abnormalities of the muscle cells themselves, rather than of the nerves that control the muscles. Also, all muscular dystrophies are caused by genetic mutations. Mutations are not communicable but can be inherited, with different inheritance patterns depending on the particular form of muscular dystrophy. In general, muscular dystrophies cause progressive weakness, although there are a few exceptions. The most common, and best known, type of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which causes symptoms starting in childhood and almost exclusively affects males, because the responsible gene is located on the X chromosome. Some other forms of muscular dystrophy affect both genders equally and cause symptoms that first appear in adolescence or adulthood.
The following information is excerpted from Muscular Dystrophy Association, Australia The term “muscular dystrophy” covers over 40 separate neuromuscular disorders which have in common the progressive and irreversible wasting of muscle tissue. Some of these diseases are known as dystrophies, the wasting of the muscles from within themselves. Others are atrophies, wasting arising from a disorder originating in the nerve system which causes loss of the ability to use muscles. Various Myopathies, Peripheral Nerve and Metabolic Disorders also fall into the realm of disorders covered by the MDA’s program. These neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) are generally, incorrectly, termed “muscular dystrophy.” Following are links to related Internet resources and Internet discussion groups, as well as selected citations from the ERIC database and the search terms we used to find the citations.
The term covers over 40 separate neuromuscular diseases which have in common the progressive and irreversible wasting of muscle tissue. Some of these diseases are known as dystrophy’s, the wasting of the muscles from within themselves. Others are atrophies, wasting arising from a disorder originating in the nerve system which causes loss of the ability to use muscles.
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is the common name for several progressive hereditary diseases that cause muscles to weaken and degenerate. It is not contagious, and there are many kinds of MD. Each type has its own hereditary pattern, age of onset and rate of muscle loss. Most muscular dystrophies are inherited and caused by alterations in specific genes. Genes are found on the chromosomes in our cells and provide the instructions for how a person will grow and develop. Different genetic alterations cause different types of muscular dystrophies. How a certain muscular dystrophy is inherited depends upon which gene is altered. For more information on the specific genetic alteration that causes your muscular dystrophy and the way it may be inherited, please contact your physician or a genetics counselor. At the present time there is no prevention or cure. Due to recent discoveries, however, possibilities of a cure or treatment are closer than ever.
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles that help the body move. People with MD have incorrect or missing information in their genes, which prevents them from making the proteins they need for healthy muscles. Because MD is genetic, people are born with the problem – it’s not contagious and you can’t catch it from someone who has it.
