Research Paper On Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy, also referred to as “MD”, is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass (Mayo). In MD, abnormal genes interfere with the production of proteins needed to form the muscle’s health (Mayo). There are many long-term effects to this terrifying disease. The primary one, that being unable to walk. Muscular Dystrophy is a life-threatening disease that many pose questions and desire to learn more about.
Muscular Dystrophy occurs in various forms. While the disease occurs primarily in males, it affects both sexes and also all ages and races (Mayo). The most common type of MD, Duchenne, is seen affected only in younger boys (Mayo). If a family member has had an encounter with Duchenne muscular
Duchenne affects one in every three-thousand and five-hundred live male births (Duchenne). There are 20,000 new cases each year across the world (Duchenne). The Duchenne gene is found on the X-chromosome, meaning that it primarily affects boys (Duchenne). It also occurs across all races and cultures. Duchenne results in progressive loss of strength. This loss of strength is caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes for dystrophin (Duchenne). Due to the absence of dystrophin, muscle cells are damaged often (Duchenne). Dystrophin binds to the muscle membrane and helps to maintain structure of muscle cells (Duchenne). Without this crucial gene, muscles cannot operate correctly, leading to progressive damage and then later, death (Duchenne). The weakness of the muscles lead to serious medical problems, primarily the lungs and heart (Duchenne). Men affected by DMD generally live into their late twenties (Duchenne). Duchenne can be passed genetically from parent to child (Duchenne). However, thirty-five percent of cases occur due to random spontaneous mutation (Duchenne). There are medical treatments that may help fight the disease, but there is no known cure for Duchenne (Duchenne).
There are many signs when Duchenne muscular dystrophy is present. In some cases, the babies might have trouble lifting their neck or even holding it upright (Duchenne). Another warning is if the baby
One common prescription given to patients with DMD is called Prednisone, also referred to as Deltasone (Mayo). This helps prolong the diseases’ symptoms, but does not permanently stop the disease forever. Also, someone with this disease can see many specialists including a medical geneticist who diagnoses and then helps treat hereditary diseases, an occupational therapist to help improve general daily living, a neurologist to help with the nervous system in other forms of muscular dystrophy, and even pediatricians that can help assist the children in times of poor health by providing the right medical care