In MD, cognition is typically characterized as which of the following?

• A. Frequently impaired
• B. Severe impairment
• C. Typically intact
• D. Mild deficits

Answer: (C)

Cognition is typically intact in muscular dystrophy because these conditions mainly affect skeletal muscles, not the brain. The brain’s functioning is generally preserved, and most individuals with MD have normal or age-appropriate cognitive development. There can be rare cases, especially in certain Duchenne/Becker presentations, where learning difficulties or mild attention issues appear due to brain dystrophin isoforms, but these are not the norm. Therefore, describing cognition as typical or intact best fits the common clinical picture, rather than labeling it as consistently impaired, severely impaired, or only mildly affected.