What is Spinal muscular atrophy?

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder – a condition that causes motor nerve cells in the spinal cord to break down, which in turn leads to muscle weakness and muscle fatigue (atrophy).

SMA manifests in various degrees of severity, which all have in common progressive muscle wasting and mobility impairment. There are less serious degrees, as the children maintain relatively good mobility, and very serious degrees where symptoms of muscle fatigue are present already in the first months of life.

The treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and compensating for the complications that occur. Significant parts are to counteract joint stiffness and scoliosis, to combat respiratory complications, and to support independence in different ways. Today, much research about SMA is done worldwide, resulting in the development of new therapies.