In the treatment of 
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)

Assessing progression is 
critical to early intervention1

DMD is a disease of muscle degeneration, which can lead to multi-organ impairment and may impact2:

Icon of a foot representing motor function

Motor
function

Icon of a heart representing cardiac function

Cardiac
function

Icon of lungs representing respiratory function

Respiratory
function

Icon of a gear and a head to represent cognitive function

Cognitive
function

Methods for assessing motor function and disease progression

There are a number of methods clinicians may utilize in order to track disease progression in their patients with DMD, including:

North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA)

The NSAA measures motor function in ambulant children with DMD by assessing 17 skills. The NSAA is applied in clinical practice, clinical trials, and natural history studies.2

Timed Motor Function Tests

The 6-minute walk test (6MWT), time to rise from floor, and time to climb 4 steps are among several commonly used timed clinical assessments in DMD. These types of tests have been shown to be strong predictors of future loss of motor function.3,4

Quantifying daily motor function with the NSAA

The NSAA was specifically designed for ambulant children with DMD. It measures 17 clinically relevant skills including several abilities that are critical to maintaining motor function and that tend to progressively deteriorate in DMD patients.5

Select motor skill to explore Hand pushing button icon

Swipe to explore Hand pushing button icon

Interpreting NSAA scores

Assessment of NSAA scores with disease milestones may provide insights into disease progression1

  • Scores range from 0-34, with higher scores indicating better motor function1
  • A patient’s motor function typically peaks at the age of 6.3 with a mean NSAA score of 261
  • After age 7, motor function declines at a rate of 4 points per year, on average1

Natural history represented by mean NSAA scores

Natural history graph NSAA

Management of DMD is a collaborative effort requiring optimal coordination of clinical care across the multidisciplinary care team (MDT)

See which specialists within the MDT are critical in providing comprehensive care7