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- Services and providers for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Also called: SMA
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease that attacks nerve cells, called motor neurons, in your spinal cord. These neurons communicate with your voluntary muscles - the ones you can control, like in your arms and legs. As you lose the neurons, your muscles weaken. This can affect walking, crawling, breathing, swallowing and head and neck control.
SMA runs in families. Parents usually have no symptoms, but still carry the gene. Genetic counseling is important if the disease runs in your family.
There are many types of SMA, and some of them are fatal. Life expectancy depends on the type you have and how it affects your breathing. There is no cure. Medicines and physical therapy help treat symptoms.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Start Here
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Spinal Muscular Atrophy
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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Understanding Spinal Muscular Atrophy(Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
Also available in Spanish
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Overviews
- Quick Facts about Spinal Muscular Atrophy(Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
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Spinal Muscular Atrophy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)(Muscular Dystrophy Association)
Also available in Spanish
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- About Kennedy's Disease: KD Symptoms(Kennedy's Disease Association)
- Creatine Kinase Test(Muscular Dystrophy Association)
- Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Velocities(Muscular Dystrophy Association)
- Muscle Biopsies(Muscular Dystrophy Association)
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Specific Conditions
- Hidden Twist...Scoliosis(Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
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Kennedy's Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Muscular Atrophy, Spinal(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Muscular Atrophy, Spinal
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Genetics
- About Kennedy's Disease: Genetic Counseling/Inheritance(Kennedy's Disease Association)
- Genetics and Diagnosis of SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)(Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy) - Links to PDF
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Genetics Home Reference: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Spinal muscular atrophy(National Library of Medicine)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Morphological changes of the lower cervical spinal cord under neutral...
- Article: Spinal muscular atrophy.
- Article: The androgen receptor's CAG/glutamine tract in mouse models of neurological...
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary of Terms Related to SMA(Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
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Organizations
- Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
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Muscular Dystrophy Association
Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Also available in Spanish
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation
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Children
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy(Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
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Date last updated: 03 August 2008 Topic last reviewed: 10 July 2008 |