Myotonic dystrophy is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, but its effects extend far beyond the muscles. In this IMPACT in Action feature, Araya Puwanant, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, shares how her research is helping improve our understanding of the disease's broader health impacts and informing better patient care.
Through CTSI-supported pilot funding, Dr. Puwanant and her team investigated bone health in individuals with myotonic dystrophy, uncovering important concerns including low vitamin D levels and reduced bone strength. These findings have contributed to greater awareness of the disease's extra-muscular manifestations and have helped shape screening and clinical management practices for affected patients.
By examining aspects of the disease that are often overlooked, this work is helping clinicians take a more comprehensive approach to care while improving quality of life for people living with myotonic dystrophy.
Through CTSI-supported pilot funding, Dr. Puwanant and her team investigated bone health in individuals with myotonic dystrophy, uncovering important concerns including low vitamin D levels and reduced bone strength. These findings have contributed to greater awareness of the disease's extra-muscular manifestations and have helped shape screening and clinical management practices for affected patients.
By examining aspects of the disease that are often overlooked, this work is helping clinicians take a more comprehensive approach to care while improving quality of life for people living with myotonic dystrophy.