Spinal Muscular Atrophy - SMA

Spinal muscular atrophy affects 1 in 6,000 newborns. It is the leading genetic cause of death in children under the age of 2. SMA is non-discriminatory as to whom it affects. There are several types of SMA. Some are related to SMN 1(survival motor neuron gene) and are discussed in this article. There are also other forms of SMA, such as Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA). SMN 1-related SMA is categorized by severity and age of onset of symptoms; degree of severity, the amount of protien deficiency in the motor neurons, and (early) age of onset all tend to show correlation with one another.

Development of sensations and the mind are completely normal in SMA.