Many people think that muscular dystrophy is exclusively a childhood disorder. However, it can occur at any point in a person’s life span. There are four types of muscular dystrophy which can onset later in life.
Muscle degeneration leads to increasing weakness
In the more severe forms of the disease, affected people:
- Become confined to a wheelchair
- Are unable to carry out even the simplest of daily activities
- Develop recurrent infections that they cannot fight
- Usually die as a result of respiratory disease. Involvement of the heart muscle may also contribute.
Earlier onset usually leads to more severe disability
There is considerable variation in the severity of muscle degeneration among the various types of muscular dystrophy. Generally, the earlier the clinical signs appear, the more rapid the progression and the more muscles that are involved.
Muscular dystrophy of later life
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy usually occurs in the first to third decades of life and involves:
- The proximal (back of the body) muscles of the pelvis and shoulders
- Slow to fairly rapid progressive muscle deterioration
- A possible normal life span, if the muscle deterioration progresses slowly.
People with this form of muscular dystrophy have generally inherited the defective gene from both parents.
Congenital muscular dystrophy
In this form of muscular dystrophy:
- The most active phase of muscle degeneration occurs before the foetus is born.
- Effects are apparent at birth. Signs include muscle weakness, hypotonia (poor muscle tone) and joint contractures.
- Some improvement occurs in childhood and the disease shows little or no progression.
- Both parents probably carry the defective gene.
Ophthalmoplegic muscular dystrophy
This form of muscular dystrophy:
- Affects the extraocular (eye) muscles and muscles associated with swallowing.
- Usually occurs in adulthood.
- Leads to drooping eyelids.
Distal muscular dystrophy
This is the rarest of the muscular dystrophies, although its incidence is comparatively high in Sweden. It affects the small muscles of the extremities.
No cure but various treatments help
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy but the use of orthopaedic devices and physiotherapy can:
- Keep affected people walking for longer
- Minimise crippling joint contractures
- Prevent or delay scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
- Ease discomfort
- Maximise independence in daily activities.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Muscular Dystrophy Association Tel. (03) 9320 9555
Things to remember
- Muscular dystrophy is not just a disease of childhood.
- There are several forms of muscular dystrophy.
- Generally, the earlier the onset of muscular dystrophy, the more severe the disability.
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