SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY

Jun 26 2025HEALTH

New Hope for Babies: Weighing Costs and Benefits of a Rare Disease Treatment

In Italy, a big question is being asked about a new treatment for babies born with a rare condition called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This condition affects the nerves that control muscles, making it hard for babies to move, breathe, and even swallow. The treatment in question is called onasemnogene abeparvovec (OA), and it's quite different from what doctors hav...

reading time about 1 minute
Jun 25 2025HEALTH

How Pictures of the Spine Can Help Track SMA Progress

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare condition that weakens muscles over time. It happens because certain nerve cells in the brain and spine break down. Nusinersen is a medicine that can slow down this process. Doctors want to find better ways to see how well this treatment is working. One way to do this is by using special pictures of the spine called MRIs. Thes...

reading time about 1 minute
Apr 25 2025HEALTH

Early Detection: How Newborn Screening is Changing the Game for SMA

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder. It affects the nerves that control muscles. This can lead to weakness and even death. But there is hope. Early treatment makes a big difference. Newborn screening (NBS) is a key player in this fight. It helps spot SMA early. This allows for quick treatment. The results are impressive. Infants who get early treatmen...

reading time about 2 minutes
Jan 29 2025HEALTH

Sleep and Stress: How Neuromuscular Disorders Affect Kids and Parents

Neuromuscular disorders, often called NMDs, are a diverse group of conditions that mess with your muscles in different ways. They can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and make it tough to move around, which really affects a person's daily life. One of these disorders, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), is quite common in kids, and it can vary a lot in how severe it is. T...

reading time about 1 minute