Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy in children. It is a progressive disorder that causes muscles to become weaker over time until it affects the whole body. Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects approximately 1 in every 5,000 boys, with an estimated 20,000 children born with the condition worldwide each year. While Duchenne can occur in people of any race or cultural background, it primarily affects boys. According to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, around 15,000 young men and a small number of young women are currently living with Duchenne in the United States.

Duchenne progresses differently for every person. Even siblings with the same mutation may have a very different progression of symptoms. The progression of symptoms through Duchenne are on a spectrum, from late onset/very mild symptoms to early onset/severe symptoms. Regular visits with a neuromuscular team help families monitor the progression of this disease, and how it can best be treated along the way.

While there is currently no cure for Duchenne, there is hope – perhaps more now than ever before. PPMD has been at the forefront of advancements in care and treatments for Duchenne. We take a cutting-edge approach to accelerate finding treatments that will end Duchenne for every single person impacted by the disease.