Browsing: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

How long a person with Duchenne muscular dystrophy lives depends on many factors. Kids with DMD usually did not survive beyond their teen years until recently. But, with advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life expectancy has increased and is further increasing with more research and clinical trials going on.

The primary objective of gene therapy is to cure a patient with DMD completely. There is some research going on that is aimed for delivering a functional, full-size dystrophin gene to muscle cells using a harmless virus. Until now, research has been limited to delivering smaller mini or micro dystrophin genes.

There are more than hundred different disorders similar to muscular dystrophy. Of them a few are considered a type of muscular dystrophy. The exact prognosis depends much on the type of disease that affects an individual. There is no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy, but treatment can help prevent or reduce problems.

Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited progressive form of muscular dystrophy. It causes muscle degeneration or atrophy (of skeletal and heart muscles) and results in weakness. Muscle weakness may begin at an age of 3 or 4 years in the pelvic area, hips or legs, and shoulders.

Advancements in recent researches have seen hopeful scientific progress in regard to new therapeutic approaches of which a large number are currently being evaluated in clinical trials and a better understanding of the disease. Learn how the recent research has helped us understand the disease better and improve its prognosis.

Patients feel devastated due to problems such as inability to stand or walk, problems in talking and eating. Caregivers face physiological or socio-cultural challenges when Duchenne strikes. Positive attitude and the zeal to keep going is the only way to thrive and overcome the Duchenne test.