Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a degenerative muscle disease that causes gradual and painless weakening of your muscles. Symptoms usually appear after the age of 50. You might notice that you start to have trouble pinching and grasping objects, or that you’ve started tripping and falling a lot. [2]
IBM progresses over several years. It isn’t life-threatening, but it can become disabling over time. It may affect one side of your body more than the other. Up to half of people develop swallowing difficulties. There’s no cure, but physical therapy can help you preserve as much of your mobility as possible. [2]
Research suggests IBM may affect between 5 and 9 out of every 1 million adults. It’s more common in people assigned male at birth (AMAB) than people assigned female at birth (AFAB), by a ratio of 3:1. [2]
Anti-cN-1A (NT5c1A) IBM (see Mayo Clnic Lab FACNI IBM testlab)