Myotonic Dystrophy Research Paper
Myotonic Dystrophy
Different Types of Treatments Being Tested Today
Myotonic Dystrophy: Treatments Being Studied Today As a child growing up I didn’t understand why my uncle was always confined to a wheelchair. I didn’t know why he would sip his drinks through a straw instead of picking up the glass. But now, I know my uncle suffers from Myotonic dystrophy, a muscular dystrophy that affects the person’s muscles, and other body systems (Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy, 1). Now knowing what has plagued my uncle for so long, I of course want to know can a cure be found? That is why I want to know what treatments are being tested today to help find cure by looking at three different treatments being tested and researched today, and the results that they have found, as well as the most promising treatments that are being tested today and have the most likelihood of going into a clinical trial. The questioned that is asked first though is what is myotonic dystrophy? Well one must understand what dystrophy means. A dystrophy is when an organ or tissue in the body wastes away (dictionary, 1). So when myotonic and dystrophy are put together you get a muscle degenerate disease. This disease is inherited, and affects one in 8,000 people around the world (Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy, 1).There is also no treatment currently for myotonic dystrophy, only things like braces and physical therapy to slow the muscle deteration. The mutation that causes myotonic dystrophy can be passed by either parent, giving their child a 50% chance of have the disease (Myotonic dystrophy support group, 1). Myotonic dystrophy develops slowly though, and usually doesn’t become severe until fifteen to twenty years after symptoms show up (Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy, 1). When myotonic dystrophy usually first develops in the teenage years, the affected person will find a hand-weakness, and a struggle letting go of a firm grasp. As symptoms worsen the
Different Types of Treatments Being Tested Today
Myotonic Dystrophy: Treatments Being Studied Today As a child growing up I didn’t understand why my uncle was always confined to a wheelchair. I didn’t know why he would sip his drinks through a straw instead of picking up the glass. But now, I know my uncle suffers from Myotonic dystrophy, a muscular dystrophy that affects the person’s muscles, and other body systems (Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy, 1). Now knowing what has plagued my uncle for so long, I of course want to know can a cure be found? That is why I want to know what treatments are being tested today to help find cure by looking at three different treatments being tested and researched today, and the results that they have found, as well as the most promising treatments that are being tested today and have the most likelihood of going into a clinical trial. The questioned that is asked first though is what is myotonic dystrophy? Well one must understand what dystrophy means. A dystrophy is when an organ or tissue in the body wastes away (dictionary, 1). So when myotonic and dystrophy are put together you get a muscle degenerate disease. This disease is inherited, and affects one in 8,000 people around the world (Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy, 1).There is also no treatment currently for myotonic dystrophy, only things like braces and physical therapy to slow the muscle deteration. The mutation that causes myotonic dystrophy can be passed by either parent, giving their child a 50% chance of have the disease (Myotonic dystrophy support group, 1). Myotonic dystrophy develops slowly though, and usually doesn’t become severe until fifteen to twenty years after symptoms show up (Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy, 1). When myotonic dystrophy usually first develops in the teenage years, the affected person will find a hand-weakness, and a struggle letting go of a firm grasp. As symptoms worsen the
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