Question

Name an inheritable disease that gradually causes muscles to weaken?

Answer 1

Muscular Dystrophy:

1. A muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic disorders which leads to degeneration and weakening of skeletal muscles.
2. Causes: Muscular dystrophies are mainly inherited diseases.
3. However different inheritance patterns are usually followed by different types of muscular dystrophies.
4. The most common cause of the disease is a mutation in the dystrophin gene & nutritional defects at the prenatal stage.
5. The defects in this gene also result in the formation of non-functional dystrophin protein found in the muscle fiber membrane.
6. This protein is also essential for the mechanical stabilization of muscle fiber & regulation of calcium levels necessary for the function of muscles. This, results in progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.