Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited (genetic) disease that attacks motor neurons (nerve cells) in the spinal cord. As the nerve cells die, muscle cells weaken and cause signs and symptoms that affect head and neck control, walking, crawling, breathing, and swallowing.
There are numerous types of spinal muscle atrophy. Treatments for spinal muscle atrophy are directed at managing symptoms of the disease. There is no cure for spinal muscle atrophy, and some types cause death. Read more: Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) ArticleMultimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
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