What are DMD and BMD?
Duchenne & Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) Muscular Dystrophy are both rare inherited disorders in which strength and muscle bulk gradually decline. Heart, and in some instances brain function is also affected. Both conditions are caused by mutations in the DMD gene, which is located on the X chromosome and encodes the protein dystrophin. In DMD the mutation leads to a loss of dystrophin, but in BMD, semi-functional dystrophin is produced. Males have only one copy of the X chromosome, which is why mainly males are affected.
Difference Between Duchenne And Becker
Where Duchenne patients lack dystrophin protein, Becker patients have either lower levels or a shorter version of dystrophin. In DMD, symptoms start to show when patients are babies or children and they lose the ability to walk by 10—12 years of age. BMD patients have less severe symptoms that will often only manifest in adulthood.
For more information please visit the website of World Duchenne Organization.
About BIND
The BIND project is the first project of this scale to improve characterisation of brain involvement in Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (DMD and BMD). This EU-funded project connecting 19 partners from Europe and Japan aims to address a crucial aspect of DMD and BMD that was already recognised in 1861, when Duchenne de Boulogne first described the neuromuscular condition. In the last few decades however, most of the efforts have focused on improving outcomes related to muscle weakness, whilst brain involvement has received less attention. Read more…
