The sustained intensity of indelible memories of SMA, and of Jeffrey
The fall of 1996 brought the usual glorious colors, cooler weather, and a whammy of a news bulletin: I was pregnant. In our 40s, my husband, Randy, and I adjusted as well as possible, as did our equally stunned son, Matthew, who was 10. Our ecstatic daughter, Katie, then 7,…
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SMA culture is changing, but love and joy are still the best treatment
A few years ago, a good friend of mine named Essie found out that her newborn daughter had been diagnosed with SMA. She reached out to me then, as she knew I had SMA, too. She had so many questions, so I went to my mom because she is…
Preclinical study finds antidepressant may boost SMN
A preclinical study found that blocking the SMPD1 enzyme with available drugs such as the antidepressant clomipramine increases the levels of SMN, the protein missing in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), potentially offering a new treatment strategy. “The strategy presented here represents not only a new therapeutic approach for this…
An invitation to the community to experience joy together
Have you ever solved the world’s problems? I have. Well, sort of. That’s what we say we’re doing when Mom and I get together for coffee with our friend Connie Chandler, a fellow SMA News Today columnist. Our deep conversations often feel like they provide answers…
SMA Europe online tool helps patients find clinical trials
SMA Europe has launched an online tool designed to help patients, doctors, and others in the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) community more easily explore ongoing clinical trials across Europe and worldwide. The organization said it aims for the Clinical Trials Finder to become “the go-to global resource”…
