Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDuchenne MDBecker MDCongenital MDDistal MDEmery-Dreifuss MDFacioscapulohumeral MDLimb-Girdle MDOculopharyngeal MDTibial MDMyotonic MD
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Duchenne MD
Becker MD
Congenital MD
Distal MD
Emery-Dreifuss MD
Facioscapulohumeral MD
Limb-Girdle MD
Oculopharyngeal MD
Tibial MD
Myotonic MD
The life expectancy for a person with muscular dystrophy (MD) depends on which type of MD they have. Some people live a full life with MD. Others, including those diagnosed withDuchennemuscular dystrophy (DMD), typically have lived into their teens and 20s.
Muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that affects the muscles, can lead to many health complications withheart diseasebeing the leading cause of death.
Muscular dystrophy cannot be cured and there are no treatments to stop the progression of the disease. The goal is to manage symptoms and help a person to live well with the condition.
Verywell / Joules Garcia
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, DMD, is the most common type of muscular dystrophy with the firstsymptoms of DMDshowing up in children between age 2 and 6.
The life expectancy for a person with DMD is about 22 years of age, but it has increased over time and is up to age 28 for people born after 1990.Some people can live longer if the disease starts later or if complications of the condition likecardiomyopathy(affecting heart muscle) are not severe.
Life expectancy with DMD also may be longer with at-home ventilation. Some researchers identifymechanical ventilationas the reason why people diagnosed with DMD may now live into their fourth decade.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most severe muscular dystrophy. Kids with DMD have a shorter life span and usually need a wheelchair. Yet genetic medicine and other advances are extending survival for people with DMD, and health professionals are focused on how to better meet their needs across an ever-longer lifespan.
Becker Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
The life span for people with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) tends to be longer than it is for people with DMD. Some people with BMD live into their 30s or 40s.
BMD is similar to DMD but the symptoms are less severe. BMD symptoms also tend to start later in life, and people with BMD usually have better outcomes than people with DMD.
The most common complications of BMD are heart diseases like cardiomyopathy and problems with heart rate or rhythm (arrhythmias).
Research on better treatment is helping patients with BMD live longer. For example, there’s some evidence to suggest that aerobic exercise can help people to counteract the disease and maintain their physical abilities.
Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
The life expectancy for people withcongenital muscular dystrophiescan vary, with much depending on the specific genetic disorder that is inherited.
Congenital muscular dystrophies are a collection of disorders that are present at birth along with other genetic disorders. Researchers continue to identify genes involved with MD and know of at least 35 to date.Gene therapy for MD may prove to be a treatment in the future.
While a person with congenital muscular dystrophy may have muscular dystrophy symptoms such as weakness, the symptoms usually do not progress throughout their life.
Muscular dystrophy is not always fatal. Each type of muscular dystrophy affects a person’s life expectancy differently. Some people live a normal life with muscular dystrophy while others will live for a shorter time than average.
Distal Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Distal muscular dystrophy may not reduce a person’s lifespan because the symptoms may develop when a person is older and affect body parts differently than other types of MD.
These disorders affect the hand andmuscles of the armand the feet and lower legs. Different types also affect vocal cords in the throat. They may impact the neck or facial muscles or cause severe gait problems that can lead toscoliosisin young people.
Researchers continue to learn more about the genetic mutations that lead to distal MD disorders.
Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy affects the muscles for movement and the heart muscle. The heart is the most affected muscle and often develops arrhythmias.
The symptoms of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy show up in adulthood and can include an unusuallyslow heartbeatorfainting. The treatments for Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy are focused on supporting a person’s heart function.
As with other MD types, there’s hope for promising genetic therapies in the future.
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Facioscapulohumeralmuscular dystrophy(FSHD) does not necessarily reduce a person’s life expectancy. While further study is needed, the prognosis is based on:
FSHD is a complex genetic disorder. It is the third most common muscular dystrophy and affects the muscles in the face,clavicle, shoulder, and legs.
Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophydoes not have a significant effect on life expectancy.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy mostly affects themuscles of the hips, pelvis, and shoulders. The age when symptoms begin can vary. Children may have symptoms starting around the age of 10 but it can also show up in adults at around the age of 30.
There are many variants of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Some people have symptoms that get worse throughout their life.
Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy affects themuscles that control eye movementand the muscles thathelp with swallowing.
People with OPMD may first notice a drooping eyelid. They have difficulty swallowing when eating or drinking. Weakness in the facial muscles is common. Muscle weakness in the arms and legs causes up to 10% of people living with OPMD to need a wheelchair.
Tibial Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
A person withtibialmuscular dystrophy (sometimes called Udd myopathy) can expect to live a full life because it usually shows up at a later age than other forms of muscular dystrophy. That said, findings from gene research suggest some variants are linked with cardiomyopathy.
Tibial muscular dystrophy affects themuscles in the lower legnear the shins. The symptoms usually start after the age of 35 but they will progressively affect a person’s ability to walk.
Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Life Expectancy
Myotonic muscular dystrophy(DM) has two variants that affect life expectancy differently.
Myotonic muscular dystrophy causesmuscle weakness. It also makes a person unable to relax those muscles.The disorder is more commonly diagnosed in adults, but some babies are born with it.
Summary
People with muscular dystrophy may have shorter-than-average lifespans, but it depends on which type they have and how severe the disease is.
Work with your healthcare team to better understand the diagnosis and treatments. It will help to ensure that you and your loved ones live well with the form of muscular dystrophy involved.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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