By Daily Mail Reporter Updated: 12:31 EST, 24 August 2009 Gene therapy is treatment that may improve the life expectancy for people with DMD much more in future. Most patients with one of the nine forms of muscular dystrophy live into adulthood, reports WebMD. Certain types of MD also affect the heart as well as the muscles used for breathing. Now, an expert — who has never treated Ali — is weighing in on her condition. Objectives: Retrospective study over the last 30 years of life expectancy in patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The life expectancy with this type of MD depends heavily on how severe your symptoms are. But, until very recently, the lifespan of patients with DMD was very short. Some types are also associated with problems in other organs. Most people with Limb-Girdle experience disability by the time they reach their 20s. Yes, MD is a genetic disorder and can be inherited from one’s parents. Eventually the distal muscles become involved and some individuals may require the use of a wheelchair. Usually by the age of 12, the child needs a wheelchair because the leg muscles are too weak to work. The prognosis is generally poor; some babies with CMD die in infancy, while others live to young adulthood. The disease progresses slowly, with many patients experiencing mild mobility problems later in life. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic disorder affecting one in every 3500 births. “I just got back from Columbus, they said that [Ali] was getting stronger and she was going fine. Special medical care may help extend life a bit, but even these patients rarely go past their 30s. Many patients manage to live to late adulthood. Here is more about different types of MD with their corresponding life expectancy: Anyone suffering from this type of MD is likely to die in his/her early 20s. Variants such as facioscapulohumeral MD and oculopharyngeal MD do not usually affect life expectancy. Some children with severe muscular dystrophy may die in infancy or childhood, while adults who have forms that progress slowly can live a normal lifespan. “The hardest part is her physically deteriorating and knowing these things are happening to her,” the 26-year-old explained. Muscle weakness usually becomes apparent between the ages of 5 … The muscle weakness is mainly in the 'proximal' muscles, which are those near the trunk of the body, around the hips and the shoulders. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disease featuring skeletal muscle wasting, respiratory insufficiency, and cardiomyopathy. And as a parent it kind of makes it so they look at their child and see their death. The life expectancy of someone with Muscular Dystrophy depends on the type that they have because it is different for each type. Additionally, tibial muscular dystrophy has been identified in … All those types affect your muscles, but may produce different symptoms, depending on the areas affected by the condition. Usually people are having normal life expectancy in case of mild syndrome. But, as mentioned above, some children are able to live into their 30s or 40s with excellent medical care. Nevertheless, many have a normal life expectancy. Muscular dystrophy is a progressive condition that eventually leads to disability. The average life expectancy of people with muscular dystrophy depends on the form of the disease. The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most common subtype of the disease that stems from childhood, affects 1 in every 3,500 live male births, producing approximately 20,000 new cases every year. Unless both parents carry the defective gene, none of their children will manifest the disease. Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an inherited condition that causes progressive weakness and wasting of the skeletal and cardiac (heart) muscles. Muscular dystrophy is a progressive condition that needs life-long management to prevent deformity and complications. Some types are also associated with problems in other organs. There have been some rare cases of patients living until they are in their forties and fifties but have needed the help of ventilator support, proper positioning of their bed, heart medication, etc to live this long. Your healthcare provider will work closely with you and devise a treatment strategy keeping the severity of your symptoms in mind. Life expectancy is normal but most of the patients will require a wheelchair. The average life expectancy is 26 years. The onset of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is generally about the age of 20 years. Patients with this medical condition need to be as active as they can because if they are inactive the muscles deterioration only gets worse. People with this type are at an increased risk of developing respiratory and heart problems, which is the reason why they usually have shortened life expectancy. We believe in her like she believes in herself!”. Unlike the other muscular dystrophies, the muscle weakness is accompanied by myotonia (delayed relaxation of muscles after contraction) and by various other non-muscular symptoms. With certain types of MD, such as Duchenne, you may have to take corticosteroid medication to control your symptoms. Many people will eventually become unable to walk. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare genetic condition. Not everyone with LGMD has the same experience, but most of those I’ve met have busy, fulfilling lives like mine. The average life expectancy for someone with Duchenne muscular dystrophy — the most common kind — is 26 years old. The hereditary pattern in Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy is autosomal recessive. The condition is usually diagnosed in your 40s or 50s, but if you receive proper treatment, it is possible to manage your symptoms without experiencing any change in lifespan. It isn’t easy to live with muscles that grow weaker over time, but you can have a very rewarding life with this condition. However, these statistics range greatly depending on the kind of MD the patient has, and there’s no definite answer when it comes to Titin’s for Ali, being that she’s the youngest person (and one of about 20 patients total) with this form of the disease. The type 2 is more common in Finland and Germany.The life expectancy depends upon the severity of the disease syndrome. When MD affects your heart muscles, it requires immediate medical help. Muscular Dystrophy life expectancy. It is useful to explain the words that make up OPMD: oculo refers to the fact that the eye muscles (specifically the eyelids) are affected, causing eyelid drooping – … “You don’t know what to expect or when to expect what’s going to happen, but you know something is going to happen.” Learn more details about the disease below. Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity supporting over 70,000 people in … Do not start taking these supplements without discussing this option with your doctor first. Some patients may live till the mid-forties via use of cardiac medications, ventilator support, etc. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. It is apparent at birth or within the first few months of life, and thus, considered part of a class of muscle disorders called congenital muscular dystrophies. 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