What is muscular dystrophy?
The muscular dystrophies are a group of rare conditions that gradually cause muscles to weaken and waste. Sometimes you may see or hear them being talked about as neuromuscular conditions, or as a muscle wasting and weakening condition. They are usually inherited and are caused by changes (mutations) in the genes which are responsible for the structure and function of our muscles.
Muscular dystrophies are progressive conditions. This means they will worsen over time. Currently, there is no cure for muscular dystrophy.
Types of muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions
The conditions listed below are covered by MDI. You can find more information on a specific condition by clicking on the appropriate link. The factsheets in each link were produced by our colleagues at Muscular Dystrophy UK and we find them to be very informative. Please be aware some information about services or entitlements may be relevant to the UK only. If you would like to find out information about services or entitlements in Ireland, or if you are in any doubt over whether MDI covers the condition you or someone you know has, please contact MDI’s Information Officer by emailing mdiinfo@mdi.ie or phoning 01 6236414.
1. Muscular Dystrophies
Becker-muscular-dystrophy
Congenital-muscular-dystrophy – General
– Merosin-deficient-congenital-muscular-dystrophy (MDC1A)
– Rigid Spine Syndrome-SEPN1-related-myopathy
– Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Emery Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Limb-girdle types of muscular dystrophy (LGMD) – General
– LGMD-1B (also known as Liminopathy
– LGMD1C (also known as Caveolinopathy)
– LGMD-2A (also known as Calpainopathy)
– LGMD2B (also known as Dysferlinopathy)
– LGMD-2I
– LGMD-2L
– LGMD2C, LGMD2D, GMD2E and LGMD2F
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD)
2. Myotonic Disorders
Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy
Myotonia x
Myotonic-Dystrophy
3. Congenital Myopathies
Central Core Myopathy
Congenital Fibre Type Disproportion Myopathy
Minicore (Multicore) Myopathy
Myotubular Centronuclear Myopathy
Nemaline Rod Myopathies
4. Mitochondrial Myopathies
5. Metabolic Disorders
McArdle Disease
Metaboolic Conditions x
6. Periodic Paralyses
7. Autoimmune Myositis
Polymyositis Dermatomyositis
Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM)
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)
8. Spinal Muscular Atrophies
– (SMA Factsheets taken from Jennifer Trust Website)
Severe (Type I)
Intermediate (Type II)
Mild (Type III)
Adult spinal muscular atrophy
Other forms of SMA:
Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Lower Extremities Dominant (SMA-LED)
9. Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathies
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (also known as Peroneal muscular atrophy)