Guide To Spinal Muscular Atrophy Types And Treatment

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) affects an individual's strength and ability to move. This disease does it by targets their spine's motor cells. Currently, this condition affects one in every eleven thousand individuals. Additionally, approximately one in every fifty Americans is a genetic carrier. The effects this condition has on patients range. Patients can have an average life expectancy. However, they will lose their ability to walk unassisted (or at all). Other patients will eventually lose their ability to eat, speak, and breathe!

Patients have many SMA treatment options, though there is currently no permanent cure for spinal muscular atrophy. Medication is a significant treatment. However, the largest treatment is gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. Of course, doctors must first determine what type of spinal muscular atrophy is affecting their patient.

Type 1

Spinal muscular atrophy type 1 is the most common form! It is also called Werdnig-Hoffman disease. Symptoms of this form appear by the time infants reach six months old. Many of them will even have symptoms immediately when they are born! The symptoms of this condition affect their ability to move. Weakened muscle tone in the infant's extremities is quite common. It is also hard for affected infants to breathe, eat, and swallow. They will not be able to sit without assistance! The same applies to raising their head.

Thankfully, this condition does not affect their cognitive abilities. Infants will still be alert and responsive! They need a team of doctors and other health professionals to handle their care. This includes checking on their respiratory health!

Continue reading to learn about more types of this condition now.