BECKER MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

CAUSES OF BECKER

• A flaw or mutation in the DNA string called
• Dystrophin; Which plays a role in maintaining
• Muscles cells. Lack of dystrophin causes cells to
• Be fragile and easily damaged

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Weakness in the pelvic, thigh, and
• Shoulder areas.
• To compensate person will walk with a
• Waddling gait, walk on toes, or stick out
• The abdomen

What Is Becker's Disease?

• Is one of nine types of muscular degenerative
• Diseases primarily affecting voluntary muscles
• Is similar to DMD ( Duchenne) but allows the
• Voluntary muscles to function better
• Although the heart is affected similarly to DMD

EFFECTS ON THE CARDIAC MUSCLES

• Muscles are weakened by the lack of dystrophin
• People often develop cardiomyopathy
• Which is heart muscle weakness
• The muscle layer of the heart (myocardium) deteriorates

EFFECTS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Although the nerves are unaffected by
• Muscular dystrophy. People have reported
• Muscle cramps at times, which is their
• Muscles deteriorating

AFFECTS ON RESPIRATORY MUSCLES

• Respiratory muscle often stay strong for many years
• But become weaker over time
• Making breathing and coughing very difficult
• And even more difficult to clear secretions
• From the respiratory tract

EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

• Will cause the person to suffer metal
• Defects, learning disabilities, cognitive
• Disabilities (motor skills, memory, emotional,
• And social)
• The person is also susceptible to schizophrenia

INHERITANCE NORMALLY

• If one family member possess the disease the
• can disease can skip generations and is carried by
• Females. When a son is born from a
• Carrier he possess a 50% chance of inheriting the flawed
• Gene and having BMD

CONTRACTION OF DISEASE

• A child with BMD has a new genetic
• Mutation that arose in one of his mother's
• Egg cells, and with the disease not being in the mothers
• Blood cells the disease is impossible to detect by
• Standard carrier testing

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

• A man cannot pass on the gene to his son,
• But he can certainly pass it on to his daughters
• These daughters will have children and so the
• Disease continues to spread, or an eggs gene
• Will mutate and become a BMD carrier