The neurobiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: learning lessons from muscle?

Several forms of inherited muscular dystrophy are associated with brain abn ormalities and cognitive impairment. One of the most common and severe of t hese diseases is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Dystrophin, the product of the DMD gene, is found in neurones, where it is associated with the pos tsynaptic membrane. Cognitive impairment in individuals with DMD is thought to be due to an abnormality in the neuronal membrane that is caused by lac k of dystrophin, Recent experimental evidence has provided valuable clues i n our understanding of the complex molecular neurobiology of muscular dystr ophy.