Canadian scientists have discovered something important about muscle stem cells – that may lead to more effective treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The genetic disease affects only boys – and causes their muscles to deteriorate over time.

That typically leads to death in the second or third decade of life.

University of Ottawa researchers found that muscles in Duchenne patients – cannot  repair themselves – due to a defect in muscle stem cells which normally generate precursor cells which become fibres – and repair damage after injury and exercise.

Duchenne affects about one in 3,600 boys – and is the most common form of Muscular Dystrophy.