Presented on September 8th, 2023.

Samar Muslemani, MOT., MSc. PhD
Universite de Sherbrooke

Do you have questions about brain-fog and the cognitive issues associated with DM1? Join DM expert Benjamin Gallais, PhD, of the The Center for the Study of Living Conditions and the Needs of the Population (ECOBES) for an “Ask-the-Expert” session on Key Neuropsychological Features of DM1.

Do you have questions about brain-fog and the cognitive issues associated with DM1? Join DM expert Benjamin Gallais, PhD, of the The Center for the Study of Living Conditions and the Needs of the Population (ECOBES) for an “Ask-the-Expert” session on Key Neuropsychological Features of DM1.

Learn more about the patterns, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments available for Central Nervous System problems in CDM.

Learn more about the patterns, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments available for Central Nervous System problems in DM2.

Learn more about the patterns, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments available for Central Nervous System problems in DM1.

MDF community members reported on the impact of myotonic dystrophy on the brain from their individual perspectives as people living with DM1, DM2 and as caregivers. Additional insights and comments were provided by members of the conference audience. The session input will be published and used to help drug developers understand the impact of DM on the brain from the patient perspective, and begin to identify clinical trial endpoints. From the 2017 MDF Annual Conference.

Dr. Melissa Dixon of the University of Utah discusses mental health challenges and symptoms sometimes experienced by people living with DM, and strategies for coping with everything from depression to anxiety and 'brain fog' From the 2017 MDF Annual Conference.

Dr. John Day of Stanford University presents an overview of brain-related DM impacts that can affect sleep, and current thinking regarding strategies to manage this very prevalent DM symptom. From the 2017 MDF Annual Conference.

Dr. Chad Ruoff of the Stanford Center for Sleep Science and Medicine discusses common sleep issues associated with myotonic dystrophy, and ways to manage these symptoms.

What is the relationship between sleep apnea and DM? Modafinil is the choice although it is expensive. Sleep apnea contributes to the daytime somnolence but patients often continue to have daytime sleepiness after CPAP.

For information on how DM affects executive function, see the Body Systems Tool.

As the inaugural presentation in our Living with DM Webinar series, we discuss the decline of executive function in the CNS due to myotonic dystrophy, as well as strategies for managing this symptom, and an update on current CNS research.