What is SMA Awareness?
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month strives to raise awareness of the condition caused by the deficiency of a motor neuron protein called SMN and other rare forms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) that stem from chromosome mutations.
What color ribbon is SMA?
The pink/mauve rose stands for strength and courage: a quality that all with SMA and those affected by SMA possess. The ribbon and rose pin became a symbol for SMA Awareness in June of 1998. It has since become the official symbol for SMA Awareness.
Is SMA considered a disability?
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a debilitating disease that can be classified as a disability if symptoms are severe enough to cause significant impairments. SMA is hereditary and progressive, affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as voluntary muscle function.
What is the life expectancy of someone with spinal muscular atrophy?
The life expectancy of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type I is generally considered to be less than 2 years. Recently, with the introduction of proactive treatments, a longer survival and an improved survival rate have been reported.
What type of disease is spinal muscular atrophy?
Description. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by weakness and wasting (atrophy ) in muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). It is caused by a loss of specialized nerve cells, called motor neurons that control muscle movement.
What is the SMA in the body?
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of hereditary diseases that progressively destroys motor neurons—nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential skeletal muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing, and swallowing, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.
What does the gold ribbon mean?
Childhood Cancer
The international awareness symbol for Childhood Cancer is the gold ribbon. Unlike other cancer awareness ribbons, which focus on a singular type of cancer, the gold ribbon is a symbol for all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents.
Can you get disability for spinal muscular atrophy?
A person suffering from SMA can qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if symptoms are severe enough and are not anticipated to improve for a year. SMA is a genetic disease that impacts the areas of the body responsible for voluntary movement.
What is the life expectancy of a child with SMA Type 3?
While children with type 3 usually are able to walk, most have some difficulty walking. Some may eventually need to use a wheelchair. Symptoms usually appear around 18 months of age or in early childhood. Children with this type of SMA generally have an almost normal life expectancy.
Is SMA always fatal?
What is the prognosis? Prognosis varies depending on the type of SMA. Some forms of SMA are fatal without treatment. People with SMA may appear to be stable for long periods, but improvement should not be expected without treatment.
Who is the oldest person with SMA?
Steve Mikita is one of the oldest people living with SMA at 64 years old.
What are symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy?
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How long do people with spinal muscular atrophy live?
The life expectancy and prognosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) vary widely between types. People with the most severe types may only live a few months. People with the mildest types have a normal lifespan. This variation depends mostly on how well the SMN2 back-up gene can make up for the loss of the SMN1 gene. 1,2.
What causes spinal atrophy?
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe, progressive neuromuscular disease that can be fatal. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 babies and when untreated is the leading genetic cause of
Does spinal muscular atrophy have a cure?
Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. While there is no cure, there is SMA treatment available, which will alter the natural course of the disease. This treatment varies based on severity of symptoms and age. The treatment will be used as a tool to help relieve symptoms and sustain mobility. There are currently three FDA-approved treatments available for spinal muscular atrophy.