Muscular Dystrophy Association

What is MDA?

MDA is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement.

What is muscular dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic muscle diseases marked by progressive degeneration of voluntary muscles. MDA’s program includes nine main forms of muscular dystrophy and more than 30 other neuromuscular diseases which vary in genetic basis, age of onset, rate of progression and muscles affected.

What does MDA do to fight muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases?

MDA spends $65 a minute, every minute of the year, supporting more than 250 research projects worldwide searching for treatments and cures for the more than 40 diseases in its program.