Stand-up comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried, who died this week at 67, lived for years with the rare genetic muscle disorder myotonic dystrophy type 2, a common form of muscular dystrophy.
Myotonic dystrophy is a rare, inherited disease that affects the muscles and other body systems. It is usually diagnosed in adulthood, often when a person is in their 20s or 30s. In this disorder, muscles throughout the body are unable to relax after they contract.
Myotonic dystrophy is usually caused by a gene mutation. It can be passed on by a family member, but may occur without a family history of the illness. People living with myotonic dystrophy have a 50% chance of passing on the mutated gene to their children.Symptoms include problems with muscles, heart, breathing, digestive system, hormonal, speech, swallowing, diabetic, immune system, vision, daytime sleepiness and cognition. Different people can have different symptoms.