Muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy are disorders that affect muscles. Despite that similarity, there are clear differences between the two conditions, as described by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Disorder Development
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that can develop in childhood or adulthood. Cerebral palsy primarily develops from injury to the brain during pregnancy, at birth or in early childhood.
Gender Difference
Some types of muscular dystrophy are primarily seen in males, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy. Females may carry the genes for Duchenne and Becker types, but rarely show symptoms. Both males and females can show symptoms of cerebral palsy.
Prevalence
Muscular dystrophy affects about 50,000 Americans, as estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cerebral palsy is more common than muscular dystrophy and develops in about 800,000 people in the Untied States, according to United Cerebral Palsy.
Disease Course
In muscular dystrophy, muscles get progressively weaker, whereas cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease.
Diagnostic Procedures
Muscular dystrophy may be detected through muscle biopsy, genetic testing, muscle ultrasound and testing the protein levels in blood. Cerebral palsy may be diagnosed through visual brain scans such as MRIs and CT scans, and blood tests to rule out other conditions.
References
- "Cerebral Palsy Fact Sheet"; United Cerebral Palsy; 2007
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Cerebral Palsy: Hope Through Research
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Muscular Dystrophy: Hope Through Research
