What are the Causes of Muscular Dystrophy?
You should keep in mind that genetic problems that affect certain proteins in your body are behind muscular dystrophy. These proteins are parts of a group called Dystrophic Sarcoglycan Complex (DSC) and they are important to maintain your muscle health and to keep them strong.
When these proteins are missing from your body or they are not working properly, the walls of your muscle cells become weak. They become so weak that even everyday activities can damage them and break them down. As a result, they die.
If these cells die continuously, it makes your muscles weak and leads to muscle dystrophy. Along with the muscles of your body, the muscles of cell walls are also affected. This hampers the blood supply to your muscles causing more damage.
DCG is also present in various non-muscular tissues like nerves, kidneys, and spleen cells. That is why muscular dystrophies may also show some neurological symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. What are the causes of muscle weakness in children?
A. Muscle weakness in children can be caused by genetic disorders like muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which is a genetic disorder affecting the nerve cells in the spinal cord.
It can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies, neurological disorders, autoimmune conditions, or infections (some viruses can temporarily weaken muscles).
Q2. What are the genetic causes of muscular dystrophy?
A. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is caused by genetic mutations that affect your muscle proteins. This genetic mutation is triggered by conditions and disorders like:
1. Duchenne & Becker MD which are mutations in the DMD gene (X-linked) affecting dystrophin.
2. Myotonic muscular dystrophy is caused by changes (mutations) in specific genes: DMPK (type 1) or CNBP (type 2). These changes are inherited in an autosomal dominant way which means a child can get the condition if just one parent passes down the faulty gene.
3. Limb-Girdle MD Mutations in various genes.
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Author Bio:
Dr. Khushbu Jain is a dedicated professional with a passion for advancing healthcare through cutting-edge treatments. She has a special interest in researching regenerative medicine and advanced treatment for diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional treatment options. Her deep understanding of these progressive treatments allows her to offer patients personalized and effective solutions for a variety of health concerns.
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