Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy:
Not Just a Muscle Disease
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is widely known as a progressive muscle wasting disease, but there’s more to Duchenne than that. At the root of Duchenne is the lack of dystrophin. It definitely affects muscles, but it affects also behaviors and relationships, too. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is far, far more than just a muscle disease.
Muscles
DMD is largely known for its debilitating effects on the musculoskeletal system, eventually affecting the individual’s ability to walk. However, muscles are an integral part to all our bodies and many other bodily systems are affected in DMD besides the musculoskeletal:
- Bone Density
- Cardiac (heart)
- Gastroenterology (eating, digestion & elimination)
- Emergency Contraindications
- Endocrinology (hormones)
- Pulmonary (breathing)
Behaviors
Since there is also a lack of dystrophin in the brain, the effects of Duchenne don’t stop with the muscles. DMD also affects the brain, emotions and behaviors – often with little mercy.
- 4 Factors in Meltdowns
- Challenging Behaviors
- Learning Differences
- Medication Side Effects
- Mental Health Comorbidities
- Not Just a Muscle Disease
- Situations that Fuel Meltdowns
- The Duchenne Spectrum of Behaviors
Relationships
It may come as no surprise, then, that individuals with Duchenne often behave in ways that are socially unexpected. They might fixate on ideas, avoid eye contact, interrupt repeatedly, not talk at all, show hyperactivity, meltdown when changing activities… relationships of the individual and his family simply can’t avoid being affected.
In fact, families often report that these emotional and social challenges are the hardest part of Duchenne to bear.
- Adolescence Interrupted
- Adult Friendship Challenges
- Barriers to Inclusion
- Building Meaningful Relationships
- Identity Formation
- Interdependence
- Social Isolation
- The Need for Human Touch
- When You Stop Walking
These factors and more just begin to illuminate life with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It’s clearly very complicated and we invite you to browse our website to learn more.