Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common type of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms usually develop before age 5 years and can affect many parts of the body, including the heart and lungs. Here are some resources and additional information about DMD.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Overview​
Muscular dystrophies are a group of genetic disorders that result in a specific pattern of muscle weakness over time. Each type of muscular dystrophy is different from the others. It is important to get help as early as possible. Muscular dystrophy has no cure but acting early may help an individual with muscular dystrophy get the services and treatments he or she needs to lead a full life.
There are many kinds of muscular dystrophy, each affecting specific muscle groups, with signs and symptoms appearing at different ages, and varying in severity. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common. It is marked by symptoms that develop usually before age 5 years, and can affect many parts of the body, including the heart and lungs.
The past decade has seen tremendous advances in the diagnosis and treatment for boys and men with DMD, with life expectancy improving from mid-teens to mid-twenties with the use of glucocorticoids, and beyond the third decade with ventilator support and multidisciplinary care.
Policy Statements and Clinical Reports
Motor Delays: Early Identification and Evaluation
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Child With Intellectual Disability or Global Developmental Delays