DALLAS—The age at which patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) start corticosteroid therapy may affect their mental health years later, according to a study presented at the 2025 Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical & Scientific Conference.
“Corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of DMD, with research demonstrating improved strength and slowed disease progression in those taking corticosteroids compared to those who do not,” wrote researchers Casey Little and Dr. Anna Jesus from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. “However, the use of corticosteroids has been associated with adverse effects on mental health.”
The study looked at quality-of-life measurements and depressive symptoms in 36 patients with DMD, 25 of whom received corticosteroid therapy. Researchers were particularly interested in whether age at initiation of corticosteroid therapy was associated with patients’ scores on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory for DMD and the Children’s Depression Inventory-2nd Edition (CDI-2).
At the time of the assessments, patients taking corticosteroids were an average of 15.4 years old, and patients not taking corticosteroids were an average of 17.8 years old.
Later DMD diagnosis linked with higher likelihood of ambulation loss
Among patients taking corticosteroids, the average age at initiation was 6.8 years. Fourteen patients were older than 5 years, and seven patients were 5 years or younger when they began corticosteroid therapy. The age of initiation was not known for four patients.
Quality of life scores were similar among groups for all aspects except worry, according to the study. Levels of worry were lower in patients who began corticosteroids at or younger than 5 years compared with patients who started when they were more than 5 years old.
On the other hand, patients who started corticosteroids when they were more than 5 years old had lower scores on the CDI-2, indicating a lower incidence of depressive symptoms, compared with patients who started at younger ages and patients who did not receive corticosteroid therapy.
“The age at which patients are started on this treatment may be associated with mental health outcomes later in life,” the researchers concluded.
