 The cause of this dystrophy is very hard to determine because it can be a mutation in any of at least eight genes and not all are known yet.These mutations can be inherited from one parent, autosomal dominant, or from both parents, autosomal recessive.Along with being able to inherit the mutated gene, distal muscular dystrophy has slow progress therefore the patient may not know that they have it until they are in their late 40s or 50s.