Friends and Families here at Mouse-aid support Miracle for
Madison and Friends to find out more please visit What is Spinal
Muscular Atrophy (SMA)? Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the
number 1 genetic killer of children und er 2 years of age. It
can strike a person anytime throughout their life - infant,
toddler, teen or adult. It is a group of inherited and sometimes
fatal diseases that destroy the nerve cells (motor neurons)
controlling voluntary movement, such as, crawling, walking, head
and neck control, as well as swallowing and breathing. It
affects the anterior horn cells located in the spine. Facts
About SMA - 1 in 40 people are carriers of the SMA gene. - 1 in
every 6,000 live births is affected. - Over 25,000 people in the
USA have SMA - SMA does not discriminate when it comes to sex,
age, race or ethnic background. - Both parents must carry the
SMA gene. - There is a 1 in 4 chance of having a child with SMA.
- There is a 50% chance of having a child who carries the gene.
There are 4 types of SMA: