Glossary of SMA Terms...Progressive weakness and wasting away of muscles. In SMA, it happens because of a genetic mutation leading to a loss of nerves that communicate with muscles. Inheritance pattern where the... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for later
Myths and Misconceptions About Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Like many rare diseases, there are many misconceptions about spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Most people are not familiar with SMA until a family or friend gets diagnosed with it. Experiences... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Disease-Modifying Drugs for Spinal Muscular Atrophy...As of 2024, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 3 drugs to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). They work in different ways to increase the amount... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Extra Care During a Cold...Children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often have breathing problems that become worse during colds. This is because they cannot cough strongly enough to remove mucus from the lungs. This... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Genetic Tests for SMA Diagnosis...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited condition that can be diagnosed with a genetic test. People are usually diagnosed with SMA after they show symptoms unless there are cases... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Complication Of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Pain...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can experience complications due to progressive muscle weakness. This includes joint and breathing problems. Children with SMA also seem to experience increased pain. We... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Types of Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of inherited disorders. SMA causes certain muscles to become weak and waste away (atrophy). SMA may look different in every person. Historically, doctors... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Life Expectancy and Prognosis for SMA...The life expectancy and prognosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) vary widely between types. People with the most severe types may only live a few months. People with the mildest... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Adulthood Diagnosis...Most of the common types of SMA start during childhood. Fewer than 5 percent of all SMA cases are type 4 SMA. This is the most common type of adult-onset... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy...The most common symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are muscle weakness and low muscle tone. Recognizing these and other symptoms early can help people get a diagnosis and start... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Complications of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Joint Contractures...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can develop long-term complications because of progressive muscle weakness. One complication that is especially common in Type 2 SMA is joint contractures. Contractures happen... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Physical Examination to Diagnose and Monitor Progression...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) must be diagnosed with a genetic test. Before suspecting SMA, doctors often use physical exams to help distinguish it from other similar neuromuscular disorders. A diverse... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Non-Invasive Breathing Support (NIV)...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often have difficulty breathing because of chest muscle weakness. Breathing support can make sure they get enough oxygen to meet their body’s needs. Breathing... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Other Neuromuscular Disorders...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of many disorders of muscles and the nerves that control them. These are called neuromuscular disorders. These disorders have similar symptoms but vary in... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for later
What Causes Spinal Muscular Atrophy?...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder. This means that SMA is inherited by children from their parents, and it is present at birth. It is caused by mutations... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Genes and Anatomy of Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder that causes progressive (gets worse over time) muscle weakness. It is caused by a defect in the SMN1 gene, which is needed... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)?...Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder where muscles become weak and waste away. It happens when spinal cord nerve cells die, causing important muscles to become inactive. It... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for later
Spinal Fusion Surgery for Spinal Muscular Atrophy...Progressive back muscle weakness often leads to scoliosis (curvature of the spine) in people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Scoliosis is very common for people with type 1 or 2... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Complications of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Scoliosis...People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) experience muscle weakness that gets worse over time (progressive) because of defective motor neurons. In severe types of SMA, progressive weakness can cause serious... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Spinal Muscular Atrophy With Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy (SMA-PME)...Spinal muscular atrophy with progressive epilepsy (SMA-PME) is a very rare type of SMA. SMA-PME is also an inherited neuromuscular disorder. However, it is caused by different gene mutations than... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
