SMA Clinical Trials...Clinical trials for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) help doctors understand more about the disease. Information from clinical trials helps develop new treatments and understand how to use them. Participating in...
Coping and Grief with SMA...Caregiving for a loved one with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can be an emotional rollercoaster. It is normal to feel shocked or sad when a family member is diagnosed with...
SMA and Health Insurance...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often face high healthcare costs. These costs usually come from hospital visits, medical equipment, and prescription drugs. Healthcare in the United States can be...
Mike Noon...Mike lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. He was first diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 3 in 1989, when he was 12 years old. He was ambulatory all...
Community Health Leaders...In order to stay up to date on latest treatments, drug discovery, clinical studies and how to cope with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) every day, SpinalMuscularAtrophy.net brings you frequent articles, points of...
Assistive Equipment: Adults...Adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) may have lower mobility because of progressive muscle weakness. This can make it harder to carry out daily tasks. The level of motor functioning...
Independent Living With SMA...A common concern for adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a loss of independence. As muscle weakness worsens over time, adults with SMA may lose some physical mobility. This...
Children and Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a long-term progressive disease that causes muscle weakness. This affects each child with SMA differently. Children often have physical limitations, which may require accommodations in...
Treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Most treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are supportive techniques. These are therapies that may delay or prevent complications and improve quality of life. There are also disease-modifying drugs approved...
Nutrition and Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Proper nutrition is important for everyone, but especially for people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Many people with SMA have low height and weight because of poor nutrient intake. Difficulty...
School Accommodations and SMA...Children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often succeed in school. However, certain physical limitations may prevent them from participating in all academic activities. Accommodations in the school setting can help...
SMA Testing And Diagnosis...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited disorder that can be diagnosed using a genetic test. Genetic tests use a blood sample to identify alterations in a certain gene. Our...
SMA Assistive Equipment...Muscle weakness because of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can make daily tasks difficult. How motor function and independence are affected depends on disease severity. Treatments and therapy aim to reduce...
My Partner Has SMA...Partners or spouses may be the main caregiver for adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Partners may need to help with daily tasks and giving medicines. Caregiver experiences vary greatly...
Mental Health Impact...Having a chronic condition like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can take a toll on mental health. Lack of control and fear of the future are common among children with SMA...
Emerging Drugs...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have mutated SMN1 genes. This leads to low levels of the “survival of motor neuron” (SMN) protein. Without the SMN protein, motor neurons eventually...
My Child Has SMA...Parents of children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are usually their child’s main caregivers. With support from doctors, parents become the experts on their child. They know the best ways...
Symptoms and Complications of SMA By Type...Recognizing the symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) early can help doctors diagnose and start treatment as soon as possible. This is especially important for infants and children with more...
Palliative Care...Palliative care is an important part of treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This refers to therapies that focus on comfort more than treating the cause of disease. Palliative care...
Living With SMA...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) face many challenges throughout life. Physical symptoms can lead to emotional and social challenges for children. Dependence on others and isolation can worsen mental...