What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare, genetically inherited neuromuscular condition. SMA may affect crawling and walking ability, arm, hand, head and neck movement, breathing and swallowing.

There are 4 main types of SMA - Types 1, 2 and 3 appear in childhood, while Type 4 affects adults, and is also sometimes known as Adult Onset SMA.

Other, even rarer, forms of SMA include SMA with Respiratory Distress (SMARD), Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), and Distal SMA (DSMA).

SMA affects approximately 1 in 6,000-10,000 babies born worldwide and about 1 in 40-60 of us carries one of the faulty gene copies that can cause the condition.

For more information on 'What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy' please see our information sheets: http://www.smasupportuk.org.uk/what-is-sma

For more information on the genetics of Spinal Muscular Atrophy please see: http://www.smasupportuk.org.uk/the-genetics-of-spinal-muscular-atrophy