Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder that disables a person’s mobility and nerve cells. This condition is a neurological disorder that also leads to muscle weakness. This, in turn, affects the spinal cord and brain stem. Spinal muscular atrophy could start anytime in life, depending on the gene mutation. People with spinal muscular atrophy will be unable to walk, breathe, chew, swallow and control their head wobbles. Of all the different types of spinal muscular atrophy, some of them will affect life expectancy.

Currently, there is no cure for spinal muscular atrophy, but research is ongoing for new treatment options and medicines, and current ones like Nusinersen and Zolgensma are slowly progressing into every hospital in the world. If the doctors suspect spinal muscular atrophy, they will want to conduct a few tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests are genetic blood tests, electromyography to measure the electrical activity in a group of muscles and lastly, the creatinine test called the CPK to distinguish SMA from other neurogenetic disorders. Herein we tale a look at the top four treatment options for spinal muscle atrophy.

Gene therapy for SMA
This is done only once. It is an infusion sent to your veins in order to replace the deformed or unseen SMN1 gene. The new gene increases the protein levels of the survival motor neuron SMN gene. This, in turn, helps in the motor neuron functioning and survival chances are higher. The FDA has approved this therapy for children below two years old.

Nusinersen
When your child has SMN1 mutation that results in spinal muscular atrophy, this FDA-approved treatment option is prescribed. Nusinersen is a medication with genetic content that is known as the antisense to improve the protein levels produced by the SMN2 gene. This slows the process of spinal muscular atrophy onset. SMA is a neurogenetic disorder. Hence, people suffering from SMA have a lot of SMN2 genes which will reduce the amount of protein intake to the motor neuro functions and Nusinersen will be able to support this by filling that void.

Zolgensma
This treatment option for spinal muscle atrophy will work on the SMN1 gene mutation and is usually prescribed to children under the age of 2 years. The nurse will insert a catheter into the child’s veins through the arms. The medication is infused to a set of motor neuron cells and is safely done only one at a time. Most studies have revealed that the medication has helped children to reduce the onset of SMA symptoms and have a much-extended life span. Researchers are working on new treatment options, however, because both Nusinersen and Zolgensma can have adverse side effects.

Equipment for assistance
To improve one’s life expectancy and their quality of life, we have ventilators, powered wheelchairs, access to modified computers, community, therapy, gene therapy, etc. Some hospitals do try physical therapies like massage, hydrotherapy, wheelchair sports, etc.