Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week: History and Significance of the Day

The United States observes Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week from February 13 to February 19 each year. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe form of the disease caused by a genetic defect, and this week is dedicated to raising awareness of it. Skeletal muscles weaken and eventually break down in people with the disorder, making it impossible for them to move or stand. Even though this kind of muscular dystrophy is the most common, few people are aware of this illness’s prevalence or available treatments. The purpose of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Knowledge Week is to raise awareness of the condition and offer assistance to individuals who are impacted by it.

Every year, the country observes Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week from February 13 to February 19. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by a genetic defect. This week is designated to raise awareness of the disease. The disease causes skeletal muscle weakening and eventual breakdown in affected individuals, making it impossible for them to move or stand up. Even though this kind of muscular dystrophy is the most prevalent, the general public is not well-informed about the disease’s prevalence or possible treatments. The purpose of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week is to raise awareness of the disease and provide support to those who are affected by it.

Beginning on February 13 and lasting through February 19, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of the rare disease, support DMD patients and their families, and generate funds for research. DMD is a hereditary condition that causes weakness and a progressive loss of muscle function.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week runs from February 13 to February 19, and it’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of this little-known progressive illness that weakens muscles. It is a genetic disease that stops the body from producing enough dystrophin, a protein. This protein keeps muscles safe during contractions and relaxations. It is an uncommon condition that affects approximately 1 in 3,500 to 5,000 male babies born globally.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week: History

Every year, on May 9, people across the country observe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week as a way to spread knowledge about one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder.

A group of rare genetic disorders known as muscular dystrophies impact the neuromuscular system. Patients with these conditions eventually develop a weakening of their muscles and eventually lose their ability to contract.

Gene mutations producing muscle proteins are the cause of these disorders. They might develop while the child is still a fetus or they might be inherited from the parents. Dystrophin, the protein that gives Duchenne muscular dystrophy (D.M.D.) its name, is produced by a mutation in the dystrophin gene.

D.M.D. leads to the degeneration and eventual death of muscles, which are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissues. Usually, it starts in the muscles of the thighs, pelvis, and calves and progresses to the arms, shoulders, and neck over time.

This disorder develops early in life and primarily affects men. About the time a child turns five years old, symptoms such as trouble walking and getting out of a prone position become apparent. By the time they are 21 years old, people with the condition are effectively paralyzed from the neck down due to the disease’s steady progression. Rarely, this disorder can present as non-musculoskeletal symptoms, in which case the neurological system is most severely impacted.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week: Purpose

Every year, during Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week, people across the country raise awareness of one of the most common types of muscular dystrophy—a rare genetic disease.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: What is it?

A subset of rare hereditary diseases that impact the neuromuscular system are known as muscular dystrophies. Patients with these diseases experience progressive muscle atrophy and eventually collapse.

These diseases are brought on by mutations in the genes that produce muscle proteins. They may develop during the child’s developmental stage as a fetus or be inherited from the parents. The disorder known as Duchenne muscular dystrophy is named after the patient and is brought on by a mutation in the gene that codes for the protein dystrophin.

Muscles with Duchenne muscular dystrophy degenerate and die, to be replaced by fat and connective tissues. Usually, it begins in the muscles of the arms, shoulders, and neck before moving on to the muscles of the legs, pelvis, and calves.

This disease usually affects men and first appears in childhood. Symptoms like trouble walking and getting out of a prone position start to show around age five. Patients experience rapid progression of the condition, leading to effective paralysis from the neck down by the age of 21. The neurological system is most affected when this condition manifests in a non-musculoskeletal way, which happens in rare cases.

What you should know:

• There are more than 30 types of muscular dystrophy, including Duchenne.
• Although only 1 in 50 million girls are afflicted, they may carry the gene.
• Usually between the ages of two and three, the first symptoms of Duchenne are observed. The child might walk, stand, sit, and climb stairs more slowly. Most people’s core muscles are weak, which makes it difficult for them to run and jump correctly.
• The hip, pelvic, thigh, and shoulder muscles are initially affected by the condition, followed by the arms, legs, and trunk muscles. The calves are frequently larger. The respiratory and cardiac muscles are also impacted by the early teens.
• Learning disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorders are more common in children with Duchenne.
• Life expectancy is rising from late teens to well into adulthood because of new interventions. Men who have Duchene disease can live into their 40s and 50s.
• To treat this condition, researchers are pursuing innovative and exciting new approaches.

What you can do:

• Genetic testing is recommended if a family member has Duchenne or another muscle-wasting condition that may have gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed before starting a family.
• A child who exhibits signs of muscle weakness, especially when sitting, standing, or walking, should be seen by a doctor.
• The symptoms of Duchenne should be recognized by educators and caregivers so that they can notify parents.
• To prevent the child from becoming socially isolated, family, friends, and neighbors can involve him in all appropriate activities.