Muscle loss increases with age naturally, but it is even more significant with nemaline myopathy. Current research
New research resources have become available for the NM community, such as the CMDIR (registry) and the CMD-TR (biorepository). These two resources connect families and individuals interested in participating in research with the scientists that aim to treat or cure NM. Some research on NM seeks to better understand the molecular effects the gene mutations have on muscle cells and the rest of the body and to observe any connections NM may have to other diseases and health complications. History
"Rod myopathy" was first identified by Douglas Reye, an Australian physician, in 1958. However, Reyes results were never published because another doctor dismissed his finding of rods in the muscle tissue as an artifact of the biopsy. Forty years later, Reyes "rod myopathy" patient was confirmed to have nemaline myopathy. Another group of Australian researchers has since published an article recognizing Reye for his work. "Nemaline myopathy" was first named in a published paper in 1963 by North American researchers P.E. Cohen and G. M. Shy. Shy and his team discovered rod- like structures in muscle fibers of  patients with muscle weakness by performing muscle biopsies on multiple patients. Laboratories performing research on NM are located around the world, notably in the United States, Canada, England, Finland, and Australia. Society and culture
In 1999, the first website on nemaline myopathy was launched, and in October 2004, the first Nemaline Myopathy Convention was held in Toronto, Canada.
Many more conferences and social events have been held since, and all events organized since 2008 have been co-sponsored by A Foundation Building Strength for Nemaline Myopathy (AFBS), the only foundation focused on supporting treatment development and social events for the NM community. In March 2006, Niki Shisler released a book, Fragile, in which she recounted her experiences surrounding the birth of twin sons with severe NM. In 2014, a team of experts collaborated with affected individuals and families caring for someone with a congenital myopathy to develop the first guidebook on managing life with a congenital myopathy

References
External links
GeneReview/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Nemaline Myo\