What disease is MMD?

Myotonic muscular dystrophy, also known as MMD or Steinert’s disease, is the most common form of MD in adults. It occurs in 1/30,000 people. It occurs in males and females, with symptoms typically beginning any time from early childhood through adulthood.

What causes MMD disease?

What causes muscular dystrophy? MD is caused by changes (mutations) in the genes responsible for the structure and functioning of a person’s muscles. The mutations cause changes in the muscle fibres that interfere with the muscles’ ability to function. Over time, this causes increasing disability.

What are the symptoms of MMD?

Symptoms

• Frequent falls.
• Difficulty rising from a lying or sitting position.
• Trouble running and jumping.
• Waddling gait.
• Walking on the toes.
• Large calf muscles.
• Muscle pain and stiffness.
• Learning disabilities.

Is there a cure for MMD?

MMD does not always cause serious disability, but it can. Usually children with more serious disability start having symptoms in early childhood. There is no cure yet for this disease, but treatment to deal with symptoms and prevent or manage complications can make a big difference in your child’s quality of life.

What is the most common neuromuscular disease?

The most common of these diseases is myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease where the immune system produces antibodies that attach themselves to the neuromuscular junction and prevent transmission of the nerve impulse to the muscle.

Is exercise good for myotonic dystrophy?

Studies show that moderate exercise is safe and may be effective for individuals with myotonic dystrophy. 1-4 Even though exercise does not cure myotonic dystrophy, it can help optimize function and maintain strength.

What type of muscular dystrophy occurs in adults over age 40?

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophyaffects the muscles of the face, shoulders, and upper arms. It can affect anyone from teenagers to adults in their 40s. Distal muscular dystrophy affects the muscles of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. It usually comes on later in life, between ages 40 and 60.

Is myotonic dystrophy a disability?

The official name of the Blue Book is Disability Evaluation Under Social Security. SSA doesn’t include myotonic dystrophy on the list of chronic illnesses or impairments provided in its Blue Book.

What race is muscular dystrophy most common in?

It appears that DMD is significantly more common in white males than in males of other races.

What disease eats away at your muscles?

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases characterized by weakness and wasting away of muscle tissue, with or without the breakdown of nerve tissue.

What is the most common muscle disease?

Primary Muscle Diseases. Common primary diseases of the muscular system include inflammatory myopathies, such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiomyopathy, among others.

Can you build muscle with myotonic dystrophy?