Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle wasting disorder, which affects about 1500 boys in the UK. Boys affected by DMD first start to show signs of muscle weakness before about 3 years, and by 12 years they are unable to walk. By their late teens, the condition is life threatening, as the muscles used for breathing become weaker. There is no cure for DMD at the moment, although physiotherapy and exercise can help counteract the effects of the muscle weakening.
