[MD-453] DMD CS: Stages of DMD

Tap the body part buttons below to learn about signs of DMD progression.

Cognitive Symptoms

With age, DMD may cause issues with learning, concentration, memory, and emotional regulation.

Digestive Problems

As DMD progresses, it can affect the muscles around the stomach and intestines and how well food moves through the digestive system. This may show up as symptoms like diarrhea and constipation.

Heart Problems

By the age of 18, nearly everyone with DMD will have cardiomyopathy, or a weakened heart muscle. People with DMD may also experience arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).

Muscle Pain

Increased muscle pain, as well as pain in additional parts of the body, may happen as DMD progresses.

Fatigue

Fatigue and its effect on sleep problems, mental health, and quality of life for people with DMD may become worse with age.

Breathing Difficulties

As DMD progresses, shallow breathing may go from just being an issue at night to being problematic during the day as well.

Muscle Weakness

For people with DMD, muscle weakness gets worse with age. During the preteen, teen, or young adult years, muscle weakness will typically become severe enough that moving around is difficult.

Broken Bones

DMD and related vitamin deficiencies weaken the bones over time. By the age of 15, 60 percent of children with DMD will have experienced a broken bone.

Spinal Abnormalities

DMD progression may cause spinal abnormalities like scoliosis — a sideways curving of the spine.

Urinary Symptoms

Unexpected urine leaks may happen as DMD progresses.