NEUROMUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

By: Dana DeGraaf

WHAT IS NEUROMUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?

Neuromuscular dystrophy is a term used to refer to a group of muscle disorders in which the face, limbs, heart or spine muscles gradually weaken and shrink over time.

In cases involving the heart and spine, this can be fatal.

EXAMPLES:

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy

Becker’s muscular dystrophy

Distal muscular dystrophy

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

Etc…

Here is an example of Muscular Dystrophy

THE DIFFERENT TYPES ARE DISTINGUISHED BY FACTORS SUCH

AS:

Age at which symptoms start

Pattern of weak muscles

Speed that the disease progresses

Involvement of other tissues besides muscles

Pattern of inheritance

CAUSES OF NEUROMUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

All muscular dystrophies are inherited. Each type is associated with the genetic mutation in the DNA line. A woman who has the mutated gene is called a carrier. Each of her children have a 50% chance of getting her genetic mutation.If her child is a boy, then he will develop the muscular dystrophy. If it is a girl, she will become a carrier and have the 50% chance to pass the disease on to her children.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

Progressive muscle wasting

Poor balance

Scolosis (curved spine)

Limited range of movement

Inability to walk

EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN:

There have been reports of a 50% decrease in neuron number and neural shrinkage in regions of the cerebral cortex and brain stem.

People diagnosed with neuromuscular dystrophy have been reported to have a lower IQ (average 85)

S O U R C E S :

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www.ocl.org/www.nlm.nih.gov/brain.oxfordjournals.org/