MadSci Network: Medicine
Query:

Re: What kind of medical treatments are currently available for MDA?

Date: Mon Feb 9 09:43:07 2004
Posted By: Lynn Nielsen-Bohlman, Senior Program Officer
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 1072141586.Me
Message:

I am surprised by your question, because the acronym that you use, MDA, is that of the muscular dystrophy association – a very good place to find information: http://www.mdausa.org/

If you look up the term ‘muscular dystrophy’ on the Medline Plus dictionary (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html), you will find out that it is any ONE of a group of hereditary diseases characterized by progressive wasting of muscles -- called also progressive muscular dystrophy. Two examples are Becker Muscular Dystrophy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

To find more on this group of diseases, start at the MDA web site, then move on to search Google (http://www.google.com) for a particular disease and a word like “treatment”. Like this: "duchenne muscular dystrophy" treatment. You will find that “although there is no cure for DMD, accepted treatments can lessen symptoms and improve the quality of life. A combination of different therapies plays an important role in keeping the body as flexible, upright and mobile as possible. This is accomplished through a mixture of physical therapy, a regimen of exercise, bracing, and the use of a wheelchair.”

You might also ask the librarian at your school or city library to help you find information on muscular dystrophy. Look in the encyclopedias, and look for books like Irwin M. Siegel's "Muscular Dystrophy in Children: A Guide for Families" (Scb Distributors;1999), Alan E. H. Emery's "Muscular Dystrophy: the Facts" (Oxford University Press;2000), or "The 2002 Official Patient's Sourcebook on Muscular Dystrophy" edited by James N. and Philip M. Parker(Icon grp int;2002).

Good luck with your science project!


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