News

Hand strength improves for adults with SMA types 2, 3 taking Evrysdi

Evrysdi (risdiplam) effectively improved motor function in adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2 or type 3, particularly skills like hand strength and function, a small study in France shows. Most patients also reported gains in bulbar functions, that is, speaking, chewing, and swallowing, and eased breath…

Unique BICD2 mutation causes severe SMA-LED: Case study

Researchers reported a unique mutation that supported an 8-year-old girl’s diagnosis of spinal muscle atrophy with lower extremity predominance (SMA-LED). The mutation, mapped to the BICD2 gene, resulted in a severe form of SMA-LED, type 2B, that emerged before birth and was primarily marked by joint contractures in infancy.

SMA’s effects on gene activity vary across tissues: Study

The activity of many genes may be dysregulated in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but the way the disease affects genes seems to vary across different types of tissues in the body, a study found. “Our comparative meta-analysis identified only few genes and pathways that were consistently dysregulated in SMA…

Liver-targeting gene therapy lowers mice whole-body SMA symptoms

Gene therapy that selectively delivers the SMN1 gene to the liver reduced alterations related to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a mouse model, restoring muscle size and correcting pancreatic issues. Mice that received liver-specific SMN1 also lived longer, performed better on motor tasks, and had fewer liver problems than untreated…

Study calls for streamlined SMA treatment in Australia

Slightly more than half of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients in Australia who gave feedback for a study on how well they thought their treatments worked did not notice any improvement. The researchers said the results suggest a need for better, more comprehensive healthcare. More children than adults with…