What is muscular dystrophy?Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic disorders that make muscle fibers unusually fragile and susceptible to damage. Damaged muscles weaken over time. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscular-dystrophy/basics/definition/con-20021240There are several different types of muscular dystrophy; Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common and catastrophic disease in young children. DMD is caused by a deficiency of dystrophin, a cytoplasmic protein that helps strengthen muscle fibers to protect muscles from injury. Children with DMD often learn to walk much later than their peers due to the progressive weakening of their muscle fibers. It's common for toddlers with DMD to have a medical phenomenon called pseudohypertrophy or "false hypertrophy" of the calf muscles due to muscle tissue that may contain scar tissue. By school age, children may walk abnormally – on tiptoes or on tiptoes with a slight waddle – making it difficult to maintain balance. Adolescents with DMD may need additional assistance or mechanical support when performing activities involving the arms, legs, or trunk. Due to dystrophin deficiency, children with DMD may also weaken the myocardium, or muscular layer, of the heart, leading to cardiomyopathy. Over time, damage to the heart from DMD can be life-threatening. Duchenne disease also has a dramatic impact on the lungs, weakening the diaphragm and making air intake and exhaust less efficient. Nearly a third of children with DMD have been diagnosed with a learning disability. Doctors believe dystrophin abnormalities can have subtle effects on cognition and behavior...... middle of paper ......es quickly. Most people with DMD are unable to walk by age 12 and may need a ventilator to help them breathe later in life. They usually die in their late teens or early 20s from respiratory complications, infections or heart problems. www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/musculardys/conditioninfo/pages/types.aspxBibliographyClinic, Mayo. “Muscular dystrophy”. Definition. Np, and Web. March 14, 2014. “Duchenne muscular dystrophy.” Association against muscular dystrophy. Np, and Web. March 14, 2014. “Recommended Ratings.” - Muscular Dystrophy Parent Project. Np, and Web. March 14, 2014. “What are the types of muscular dystrophy? » What are the types of muscular dystrophy? Np, and Web. March 14, 2014.Zoom ControlsZoom Out Zoom In PagerPrevious/Next 5 ActionsView as Text View as Page Download Loading...