Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of over 30 inherited conditions that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. While there is no cure for MD, treatments can help manage symptoms and slow progression. Genetic changes cause MD. These mutations change how the body produces and maintains healthy muscle tissue. MD is more prevalent in males than females. The most common form, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), affects approximately 1 in 3,500 male births. Although it typically affects young children, other variations can appear in adulthood. Currently, there is no cure for MD. Physical therapy and certain medications can slow its progression and improve a person’s quality of life. Researchers are working on developing gene therapies that may provide hope for people with certain types of MD. Read more to learn about the different types of MD, what causes it, and how people can manage it. What is muscular dystrophy? MD is a group of over 30 conditions that lead to muscle weakness and degeneration.

As the condition progresses, it becomes harder to move. It can affect breathing and heart function, which can be life threatening. Depending on the type and severity of a person’s MD, the effects can be mild, progressing slowly over an average life span. In other cases, it can be aggressive, progressing quickly and shortening a person’s life. There is currently no way to prevent or reverse MD. However, different kinds of therapy and drug treatment can improve a person’s quality of life and delay the progression of symptoms. Although there are many types of MD, DMD is the most common. This section will cover DMD’s symptoms, but the symptoms of each kind of MD can differ. Currently, there is no cure for MD. Medications and various therapies can slow the progression of the condition and improve a person’s mobility. Various medications can treat MD. If a person has DMD, they may receive injections of drugs that target certain genes. People with DMD have a mutation in the gene that produces dystrophin, a protein that protects and builds muscle tissue.

Individuals with specific gene mutations may be eligible for this gene therapy, and Prime Boosts researchers are working to develop new gene therapies that can halt or reverse muscle loss. Physical therapy: Prime Boosts Supplement Boosts Reviews Mobility and stretching exercises can help combat the tightening of muscles and tendons, also known as contractures. Standard low impact aerobic exercises like walking and swimming can also help slow the progression of symptoms. Breathing assistance: As the muscles used for breathing become weaker, a person may need devices to help them breathe while they sleep. In severe cases, they may need to use a ventilator. Mobility aids: Canes, wheelchairs, and walkers can help a person stay mobile. Braces: These keep muscles and tendons stretched, slowing their shortening. Although experts do not yet have a cure for MD, ongoing research into various therapies may provide hope. Researchers have found the specific gene involved in MD. Therefore, a replacement gene to create missing dystrophin protein may help treat people with MD. However, there are challenges with this approach, including the potential for the immune system to reject a new protein and the large size of the dystrophin gene.

There are also difficulties in delivering the new gene directly to the skeletal muscle. Rather than target the genes causing MD, some researchers are attempting to slow the progressive muscle wasting. In normal conditions, muscles can repair themselves. Research into controlling or increasing these repairs could benefit some people with MD. Researchers are analyzing the possibility of using muscle stem cells to treat MD. Current projects are looking at the most useful type of cells to use and ways that doctors could deliver them to skeletal muscle. During the early stages of MD, a type of stem cell called myoblasts repair and replace faulty muscle fibers. Once the myoblasts wear out, the muscles slowly turn into connective tissue. Some studies have attempted to insert modified myoblast cells into muscles to take over from the exhausted natural myoblasts. Although the most common type of MD is DMD, there are several different types. These can occur at different stages of life, and they progress at different rates.