Scoliosis Surgery in SMA Children Linked to Permanent Motor Skill Loss, Study Finds
Surgery to treat scoliosis may permanently limit the ability of children with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA)…
Articles by Ana Pena, PhD
Lack of SMN Protein in Muscles May Also Directly Contribute to SMA, Lab Study Reports
Loss of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein in muscles may contribute directly to the development of spinal muscular atrophy…
Immediate Treatment Advised for Newborns with 4 Copies of SMN2 in Updated Guidelines
Newborns diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) via newborn screening (NBS) and who carry four copies of the…
Targeting Defects in Cell’s ‘Skeleton’ May Restore Cellular Function in SMA, Early Study Shows
Low levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein — the major root cause of spinal muscular…
microRNAs Possible Blood Markers of Children’s Response to SMA Therapies, Study Suggests
Muscle-specific microRNAs, small DNA-related molecules detectable in blood tests, may be biomarkers of disease progression and response to therapy…
R-Roscovitine Prolongs Survival, Restores Neuron-Muscle Communication in SMA Mice, Study Reports
R-Roscovitine, a small molecule that promotes calcium entry in nerve cells, restored neuron-muscle communication, reduced the loss of motor…
Management of Swallowing Problems Should be Tailored for Each Child With SMA Type 1, Small Study Suggests
Because babies with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) develop serious swallowing problems at different ages, the decision…
Magnetic Rods May Be Alternative to Correct Scoliosis in Children With SMA, Study Suggests
Spine surgery using magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) may be an option to…
Adding Cancer Medicine to Spinraza Boosts SMN Production, Early Study Finds
Combining Spinraza with low-dose panobinostat — the active substance in an approved treatment for a blood cancer — may…
MRI Fiber Tracking May Be Potential Biomarker of SMA Course, Response to Therapy, Study Suggests
A type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows unique tracking of nerve fibers…