How does Becker muscular dystrophy differ from Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

While both Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy are X-linked hereditary disorders caused by mutations in the same gene, they differ significantly in their clinical presentation and underlying pathology.12

The primary distinctions include:

• Dystrophin Production: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is characterized by a complete lack of the protein dystrophin, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of muscle fiber membranes. In contrast, individuals with Becker muscular dystrophy produce some functional dystrophin, which accounts for the reduced severity of the condition.12
• Onset and Progression: Duchenne is a severe form that typically manifests in early childhood (ages two to six), with patients often losing the ability to walk by early adolescence and facing life-threatening respiratory or pulmonary complications before age 20. Becker muscular dystrophy has a later onset—occurring in late childhood or adolescence—and follows a much slower rate of progression, often allowing individuals to function well into adulthood.123

Both conditions involve progressive muscle weakness and degeneration, but the presence of partial dystrophin in Becker cases fundamentally alters the disease's impact on the body.12