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ResearchRSSThursday, April 23, 2026 · Yesterday

Starting corticosteroids earlier helps improve motor function in DMD

WHY IT MATTERS

If you have a young child with DMD, this research provides strong evidence to discuss with your doctor about starting corticosteroid treatment immediately after diagnosis rather than waiting, as earlier treatment may significantly slow muscle weakness.

A large study found that children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who started taking corticosteroids—a type of anti-inflammatory medicine—earlier in life had better muscle strength and movement than children who started the medicine about a year later. This shows that starting treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis helps preserve how well kids can walk, run, and use their muscles.

Starting daily corticosteroids earlier in young children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) helps them move better, walk or run faster, and keep their muscles stronger than delaying treatment by about one year, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis for preserving motor function. These are findings from a Phase 3 clinical study called FOR-DMD (NCT01603407), which […] The post Starting corticosteroids earlier helps improve motor function in DMD appeared first on Muscular Dystrop

ASK YOUR DOCTOR

If your child has been recently diagnosed with DMD or you're considering when to start corticosteroids, ask your neurologist about the FOR-DMD study results and whether early treatment is appropriate for your child's specific situation.

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dmdcorticosteroidsearly treatmentmotor functionclinical trial

Related conditions

Duchenne muscular dystrophy