How does muscular dystrophy affect children differently than adults?

The ways muscular dystrophy affects children and adults does not necessarily depend on the age of the person, but rather on the type of disease itself. The age at which muscular dystrophy takes effect varies depending on the type of disease. Most muscular dystrophies that affect children or teenagers are more severe and faster progressing than those that affect people later in adulthood. It's more likely for complications such as intellectual disabilities to occur in childhood cases of muscular dystrophy. However, the progression and symptoms of the disease depend on the type and the individual, regardless of age.