There may be several different genetic types within each kind of muscular dystrophy, and people with the same kind of muscular dystrophy may experience different symptoms. However, it can become more severe as it's passed down through the generations. In 1987, the muscle protein associated with this gene was named dystrophin. There are nine major forms of muscular dystrophy: Muscular dystrophy can appear in infancy up to middle age or later, and its form and severity are determined in part by the age at which it occurs. As with other types of muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy involves progressive muscle weakness and muscle wasting. In some people, the condition can also cause cataracts to develop at a younger age than usual. Myotonic dystrophy. What is muscular dystrophy? {ref8} They all are classified according to the clinical phenotype, the pathology, and the mode of inheritance. This condition gets its name from the muscles that are affected most often: those of the face (facio-), around the shoulder blades (scapulo-), and in the upper arms (humeral). Although each type of muscular dystrophy is caused by a different set of genetic mutations, most of these mutations prevent the body from … As the condition progresses, it becomes harder to move. The muscles around their pelvis and thighs tend to be affected first and often appear bulkier than normal. A small piece of muscle tissue is removed and examined to confirm the diagnosis or rule out another muscle disease. Like all kinds of muscular dystrophy, it causes progressive weakness and degeneration of the muscles. Unlike the other muscular dystrophies, the muscle weakness is accompanied by myotonia (delayed relaxation of muscles after contraction) and by various other non-muscular symptoms. These are blood tests that check for proteins, or enzymes, linked to muscle weakness. Muscular Dystrophy Association: ”Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.”. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.There are many different kinds of muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is diagnosed using several different tests. They result in multisystem disorders characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and myotonia (difficulty relaxing muscles after use), cardiac abnormalities, cataracts, and other abnormalities. There are several types of muscular dystrophy, wherein each type eventually leads to an increased disability, strength loss, and potential deformities. Start studying Types of muscular dystrophy. What is muscular dystrophy? Blood samples can be examined for mutations in some of the genes that cause types of muscular dystrophy. When dystrophin is reduced or absent, the muscles break down, eventually causing problems … Life expectancy is middle age. Becker muscular dystrophy occurs when a different mutation in the same gene results in some dystrophin, but it's either not enough or it's poor in quality. Muscular dystrophy can occur at any stage of life but it mostly occurs in childhood. This type of muscular dystrophy affects the muscles of the eyelids, face, and throat, and it can weaken vision and swallowing. There are more than 30 types of muscular dystrophy that result in muscle weakness. If you have Becker MD, you're also at risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy and breathing problems. The goal of physical therapy is to improve strength in the large muscle groups and prevent scoliosis and contractures. It's also possible to develop double vision. In-frame deletions typically result in Becker muscular dystrophy, which usually has a more mild presentation (compared to Duchenne) because there is some dystrophin protein present in the cells. For example, a child with the condition may: During late childhood or early adulthood, people with Becker MD often find they have difficulty running, walking quickly and climbing stairs. However, with treatment to manage the symptoms, a person's life expectancy isn't usually altered. Types of Myotonic Dystrophy. By their mid-teens, some people with Duchenne MD will develop dilated cardiomyopathy. Myotonic dystrophy is the most common adult form of muscular dystrophy. Physical therapy for muscular dystrophy may involve: Muscle weakness can affect the lungs, making breathing difficult. Page last reviewed: 24 May 2018 A rare type of muscular dystrophy that commonly affects boys. There are 9 types of muscular dystrophy, with each type involving an eventual loss of … As the condition progresses slowly, it doesn't usually shorten life expectancy. Muscle weakness in the face and throat can make speaking difficult. Vision problems. Nine Forms of Muscular Dystrophy. In … Children with Duchenne MD usually start to have noticeable symptoms between 1 and 3 years of age. There are two types of myotonic muscular dystrophy, described as type 1 (DM 1) and type 2 (DM 2). In a person who hasn't had a traumatic injury, high blood levels of CK suggest a muscle disease — such as muscular dystrophy. Curving of the spine (scoliosis). Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) DMD is the most common form of the disease and approximately half of all pediatric patients have this severe type. Areas commonly affected by muscle contractures include the arms, neck and feet. Some people with muscular dystrophy eventually need to use a wheelchair. The most common type is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which typically affects males beginning around the age of four. Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder, which is often characterized by a progressive type of muscular degeneration and weakness.There are several types of muscular dystrophy, wherein each type eventually leads to an increased disability, strength loss, and … Genes passed down through families can cause some forms of muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy UK provides a dropdown list of specific muscle-weakening conditions. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Muscular Dystrophy Causes and Risk Factors, Developmental Delays in Children Ages 3-5, Muscular Dystrophy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment, Nancy O’Dell on mothering, writing, and ALS. Types of Mutations. Some types are also associated with problems in other organs. Due to the risk of serious heart and respiratory problems, someone with Emery-Dreifuss MD will often have a shortened life expectancy. People with Emery-Dreifuss MD often begin to develop symptoms during childhood or adolescence. DMD occurs because the body is unable to make dystrophin, a protein necessary for maintaining muscle cells and keeping them intact. Some types of muscular dystrophy cause abnormal and dangerous changes in the heartbeat. Medications for muscular dystrophy include: Physical therapy helps keep joints and muscles flexible. Limb-girdle MD refers to a number of related conditions that cause weakness in the big muscle groups at the base of the arms and legs (around the shoulders and hips). It tends to affect men slightly more than women, although the reason for this is unclear. It can also cause respiratory disorders. This means that people with Emery-Dreifuss MD may have difficulty straightening their elbows or bending their neck forward, for example. Life expectancy for people with myotonic dystrophy can vary considerably. It is more common among people who are French-Canadian, Ashkenazi Jewish, or Hispanic. Anyone suffering from this type of MD is likely to die in his/her early 20s. Weakness in the muscles supporting the backbone causes the spine to become curved. This type of muscular dystrophy also more commonly affects boys. Neurological tests. To start, your doctor will examine your child and ask questions about medical and family health history. Menu Braces, walkers, or wheelchairs help provide mobility and independence to people with muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a group of over 30 conditions that lead to muscle weakness and degeneration. Scientists have discovered and continue to search for the genetic defects that cause other forms of muscular dystrophy. (It is also known as Steinert's disease and dystrophia myotonica.) This type of muscular dystrophy likewise more typically impacts young boys, according to iytmed.com. Muscular dystrophy is a collective name for a group of hereditary muscular disorders that causes weakening and eventual breakdown of the skeletal muscles over time. Symptoms generally begin in the teens but might not occur until the mid-20s or later. All types cause muscle weakness, but the areas affected and the severity of the symptoms are different. The “dystrophy” in muscular dystrophy refers to a condition in which tissue, muscle in this case, wastes away. As well as muscle weakness and wasting, symptoms can include: Myotonic dystrophy is highly variable and often gets worse very slowly, with little change over long periods of time. Other types include Becker muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Next review due: 24 May 2021, dropdown list of specific muscle-weakening conditions, clouding of the lens in the eye (cataracts), heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats, have difficulty walking, running or jumping, be unable to climb the stairs without support, behavioural and learning problems in children, a slow and irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia), an inability to squeeze their eyes tightly shut, an inability to purse their lips – for example, to blow up balloons, muscle weakness in your hips, thighs and arms, loss of muscle mass in the affected areas, progressive restriction of eye movement as the eye muscles become affected, limb weakness around the shoulders and hips. In some forms of this disease, the heart and other organs are also affected. These imaging tests give the doctor a look at muscle quality and can reveal if fat is replacing muscle tissue. Young boys are more prone to disease. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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