Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Limb-Girdle
Muscular Dystrophies
Like many of you, we were shocked and Those of us with LGMD have a lot of sup-
scared by this diagnosis. My parents port today. People with disabilities have
wondered why I had this disease; we had more opportunities than ever before to
no history of it in our family. But, as this develop and use their abilities. Federal law
booklet explains, LGMD is caused by any guarantees us a public education, equal
of several rare genetic defects that people employment opportunity and access to
may not even know they have. That means public places. Computers and technology
it wasn’t caused by anything you or your help me and other people with muscular
parents did, and you didn’t catch it from dystrophy to move around, write, work
anyone. and drive.
My family had to learn a lot about mus- By far, my greatest ally in living with
cular dystrophy and make some major LGMD is MDA; I’m sure my parents would
adjustments, both physical and psycho- say the same thing. Be sure to read “MDA
logical. Our world came to include doctor Is Here to Help You” on page 10! The
visits, leg braces, physical therapy and Association is also the world leader in
lots of questions. But gradually, muscular research on neuromuscular diseases, and
Mandy Van Benthuysen dystrophy just became a part of our lives, its scientists have made many exciting
and we coped with it by learning all we discoveries about LGMD in the years since
could. Thanks to my determined parents, my diagnosis. We all pray for the day
my devoted sister and the help of the when no one has to have a neuromuscular
Muscular Dystrophy Association, I had a disease.
wonderful childhood.
This booklet will give you the basic facts
I graduated from college, and I’m now work- about LGMD, and MDA will help you
ing in L.A. in the television industry. I use a answer all your questions as they arise.
wheelchair or scooter part time to help me As you face the challenges ahead, please
when I work, travel and have fun with my remember two important things about
friends. having LGMD: First, MDA is making rapid
progress toward better treatments and a
I hope you can tell from my story that cure. Second, you’re not alone.
having limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
doesn’t mean the end of your choices
or your dreams. It isn’t easy to live with
muscles that grow weaker over time, but
you can have a very rewarding life with
Mandy Van Benthuysen
this condition.
Los Angeles
Not everyone with LGMD has the same
experience, but most of those I’ve met
have busy, fulfilling lives like mine. I know
of a writer, a doctor, an air traffic control-
ler, some teachers, school and college
lamin A/C
cell nucleus
POMT1
FKRP fukutin
This gene identification work continues Still another strategy is to use stem cells
to the present day, along with research to to help ailing muscles regain strength.
determine the precise function of these Stem cells are early-stage, flexible cells
genes so that missing functions can be that can give rise to mature muscle fibers.
compensated for and toxic functions can They’re found in muscle tissue and other
be inhibited. places in the body, and scientists are
working to determine which cells are the
In the recessive forms of LGMD, it may be safest and most effective to test in people
possible to insert a new gene to compensate with LGMD and other diseases.
for one that isn’t working properly. This
type of intervention — gene therapy — has MDA-supported researchers worldwide
shown promise in a pilot trial in people with continue to pursue every avenue that
the alpha-sarcoglycan-deficient form of might lead to potential treatments for
LGMD. LGMD.
Inflammatory Myopathies
Polymyositis
MDA’s website, mda.org, is Dermatomyositis
constantly updated with the latest Inclusion-body myositis
research news and information
about the diseases in its program.
Diseases of Neuromuscular
Follow MDA on Facebook, Twitter
Junction
and YouTube. Myasthenia gravis
Lambert-Eaton (myasthenic) syndrome
Congenital myasthenic syndromes