Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is an aggressive form of Muscular Dystrophy that affects 1 in every 3,500 boys born.
It leads to progressive muscle loss.
Every single muscle is destroyed due to a lack of protein. It also affects the heart and the lungs.
There are very few treatments available to help all children at present. And no cure.
Stages of Duchenne:
- Age 3-5 – Diagnosis/trouble keeping up with peers
- Age 6-9 – Muscles begin to deteriorate
- Age 9-13 – Progressive muscle loss and damage/wheelchair dependent
- Age 13+ – Heart and respiratory complications
- Age 19+ – Ventilation dependent/24-hour care
- Mid-late 20’s – Current average age boys will lose their life
The Facts:
- 60% are carrier cases meaning the mother carries the gene and passes this onto their new born child
- 40% are spontaneous mutations meaning a child with Duchenne can be born without the mother carrying the faulty gene and therefore can affect anyone at any time
- Around 50 boys are affected in the East Midlands
- 2 families every single week will receive a diagnosis
- 2,500 boys are affected in the UK alone
- 300,000 boys affected worldwide
- Boys affected by Duchenne may look healthy on the outside, but on the inside fatty scare tissue is what makes up a bulk of their muscle tissue
- Duchenne causes respiratory impairment and cardiomyopathy in later years
- Very few drugs prescribed for Duchenne – steroids which have serious side effects and Translarna which will only help around 13% of all cases
- The landscape of research has changed dramatically over recent years and intensive research to find a cure is carrying on in many centres around the world
- 60+ clinical trials are now taking place thanks to charities like Alex’s Wish
- Care is improving and boys are now living longer – but still not long enough
Click here to view a video on You Tube that explains what this disease does to young boys