Press and Media
View the latest AANEM Achievement Award winners, the American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Abstract Award winners, and the latest AANEM news articles on News Express.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will be content of abstracts be viewable, as opposed to just the titles?
A: The abstract content will be available at the annual meeting during the Poster Hall hours. We do not provide abstract presenter information or slides ahead of time. All available information can be found in the AANEM Abstract Guide online when it becomes available.
Q: How do I reach out to abstract or session presenters for an interview?
A: We do not offer member contact information. To connect with abstract or session presenters, review the AANEM Annual Meeting Program when available. Find the topics of interest and connect with the presenter after their lecture or during their abstract poster session time. Currently there is no interview option for virtual attendees.
Q: When can I share information?
A: The embargo on the abstracts themselves is lifted when they have been published in Muscle & Nerve and online in the AANEM Abstract Guide. However, the additional information beyond what is in the abstract itself is still embargoed.
AANEM requires information that goes beyond that which is contained within the abstract, e.g., the release of data not included in the abstract, discussion of the abstract done as part of a scientific presentation, etc. to be embargoed until the start of the annual meeting. Please see the Abstract Embargo Policy.
Q: Will the Abstract Award Reception feature the best posters?
A: The Abstract Award Reception is a social hour in honor of the abstract award winners where all authors, including award winners, will be available to discuss research.
Q: Original research is ONLY presented as posters, correct?
A: Yes - the research is presented in the Poster Hall via abstract posters.
Science News: Muscle Involvement in Women Carrying Pathogenic DMD Gene Variants: A 6.5-Year Follow-up Study
Submitted by: Shaohua Xu, MD
Edited by: Rebecca O'Bryan, MD
Citation: Lyu Z, Poulsen NS, Joensen H, et al. Muscle involvement in women carrying pathogenic DMD gene variants: A 6.5-year follow-up study. J Neuromuscul Dis. Published online January 9, 2026. doi:10.1177/22143602251408549
Summary:
This 6.5‑year longitudinal study followed 34 women carrying pathogenic DMD gene variants and demonstrated that while most carriers experience slow, minimal progression of muscle involvement, a small subgroup—particularly those with high baseline muscle fat fraction, childhood‑onset symptoms, or variants typically causing Duchenne phenotypes—show substantially faster increases in muscle fat replacement. MRI revealed gradual fat accumulation mainly in the lower back, posterior thigh, and calf, with only modest changes in strength and function overall. These findings highlight that baseline MRI abnormalities are a meaningful predictor of future progression, offering important insight into prognosis and long‑term monitoring needs for female dystrophinopathy carriers.
Comments:
This study fills a major gap in the natural history of female carriers of DMD variants—a population known to be clinically heterogeneous but historically understudied. By providing prospective, quantitative MRI‑based progression data over more than six years, it establishes that most carriers remain stable while identifying a distinct fast‑progressing subgroup with clear prognostic markers. The work also clarifies which clinical measures are sensitive (MRI) versus insensitive (strength testing, 6MWT) to change in this population, informing both clinical care and future trial design.
Why is this interesting/relevant to the AANEM audience?
This study is valuable for neuromuscular clinicians because it provides rare, long‑term, quantitative data on how muscle involvement evolves in women carrying pathogenic DMD variants, a population that is frequently seen in clinic but historically understudied. It offers practical insight into prognosis, surveillance, and counseling for female dystrophinopathy carriers.