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Updated 6/01
Facts About Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Introduction
Questions and Answers
Part I
Part II
Characteristics of the 9 Muscular Dystrophies
MDA's Search for Causes
MDA's Search for Treatments and Cures
MDA is Ready to Help
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INTRODUCTION
Before founding of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1950, very little was known about muscular dystrophy. Through MDA's efforts, that picture has changed dramatically.
Most of the knowledge gained since 1950 about muscular dystrophy and other diseases that affect the muscles and nerves is a result of the work of MDA-supported researchers.Since 1986, scientists have identified genes that, when flawed, can cause myotonic, Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle (some forms), congenital (one form) and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophies. Approximate gene locations have been identified for several other forms of muscular dystrophy.
Finding a gene defect for a disease means doctors have a window into the disease. In the muscular dystrophies, finding a gene flaw is often the first step in figuring out what goes wrong in muscles and how the problem might eventually be corrected — either by inserting a new gene ("gene therapy") or by some other method to compensate for the gene defect.
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