Show Muscular Dystrophy Drive Muscular dystrophy is a wasting disease that weakens the muscles of the It affects the skeletal such as the biceps youngsters show by flexing their and some forms of MD also affect the heart MD usually begins in childhood and affects over THE prevalent form of MD is the progressive It is a genetic trait carried by women who show no symptoms But there is a 50 percent chance they will transmit this gene to their male This type of muscular dystrophy begins to affect the child between the ages of two and and accounts for almost two-thirds of all cases of MD sometimes develops in those with no family history of the It is thought that genetic mutations are responsible for these ALTHOUGH no effective treatment has been found for various remedial measures make it possible for patients to continue to enjoy comfortable lives for many years after the disease Physical therapy is useful in delaying the disorder's crippling and slings and braces permit the patient to continue to use his weakening MD patients retain the use of their since the last muscles affected are the small ones of the Muscular dystrophy research focuses on genetic studies and A recently developed technique for identifying carriers of the gene for the progressive type of MD increases the changes for WITH THIS new physicians measure the amount of the enzyme in the If the blood contains an above-normal the patient may be a carrier of progressive Identification of these carriers allows physicians to alert these persons to the potential danger of having a child with THE development of this technique is representative of the research conducted and supported by the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke since its formation in 1950 as one of the of Health in Research grants to vidual medical scientists to specialized research as laboratory and clu studies at the the backbone of attack on muscular g TO SPEED the and cure of this the Institute emphasizes and training of This helps to prepare more for the basic clinical neurological needed In one certain ji which may help to MD are now being teste university neurological 11 supported by I SPECIALIZED drug-effectiveness are used in these and these techniques being taught to receiving training Institute's Support of research inU underlying structural chemical abnormalities j ent in MD and other nj muscular with the training neuromuscular brightens the hope cure for these orders will be WRITE TO NIH for a free copy of lar Hope |