Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder causing progressive muscle weakness and degeneration due to mutations in the dystrophin protein, which helps maintain muscle cell integrity. DMD is part of a group of conditions called dystrophinopathies, which also include Becker muscular dystrophy (a milder form of DMD), an intermediate form, and DMD-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (a heart condition with minimal skeletal muscle involvement). DMD typically begins showing symptoms in early childhood, between ages 2 and 3, and predominantly affects boys, though it can rarely affect girls.
