The oldest DMD patient he knows is a 54-year-old man in the Netherlands, who had two brothers with Duchenne; one died at 15, the other at 41. “I know quite a few older people with Duchenne who have all sorts of different mutations,” Rey-Hastie said.

Who is the oldest person alive with muscular dystrophy?

Adam MacDonald is probably the oldest Mainer living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and hes part of a younger generation finding new ways to keep living, according to his mom, Cheryl Morris. MacDonald turns 31 on Oct. 20, 25 years after he was diagnosed with the genetic muscular degenerative disease.

Can you get muscular dystrophy in your 40s?

It can affect anyone from teenagers to adults in their 40s. Distal muscular dystrophy affects the muscles of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. It usually comes on later in life, between ages 40 and 60. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy starts in a persons 40s or 50s.

Can a man with muscular dystrophy have a baby?

Carriers may not have any disease symptoms but can have a child with the mutation or the disease. DMD carriers are at risk for cardiomyopathy. Although DMD often runs in a family, it is possible for a family with no history of DMD to suddenly have a son with the disease.

Can muscular dystrophy be passed down?

Inheriting muscular dystrophy. You have two copies of every gene (with the exception of the sex chromosomes). You inherit a copy from one parent, and the other copy from the other parent. If one or both of your parents has a mutated gene that causes MD, it can be passed on to you.

Is muscular dystrophy inherited from the mother or father?

In most cases, muscular dystrophy (MD) runs in families. It usually develops after inheriting a faulty gene from one or both parents.

Will muscular dystrophy ever be cured?

Theres currently no cure for muscular dystrophy (MD), but a variety of treatments can help to manage the condition. As different types of MD can cause quite specific problems, the treatment you receive will be tailored to your needs.

Are we close to a cure for muscular dystrophy?

There is currently no cure for the disease, and patients with DMD have an average life expectancy of just 26 years old. A mutation in the dystrophin gene, which is important for maintaining muscle fibers, causes DMD. Muscle fibers in people with DMD are highly susceptible to injury and are also unable to regenerate.