Author Archives: Margarida Maia PhD

Children living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in the U.K. can switch treatments based on practical needs and preferences without experiencing unexpected disease progression, according to a study that drew on data from the SMA…

The parts of cells that produce energy, called mitochondria, in the skeletal muscles involved in voluntary movements don’t work properly in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and may contribute to the disease’s symptoms, a study in mice and…

Spinraza (nusinersen) treatment may help restore balance to the levels of some lipids, fat-like molecules that are lower in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) than in healthy children, a…

Bulbar muscles, those of the face and throat, are affected in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and researchers in Germany found that young children with SMA cannot open their mouths as well as age-matched infants and toddlers…

Problems in how dopamine and other chemical messengers work in nerve cells can cause issues with posture in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a new study in mice that also suggests that levodopa therapy —…

Measuring the amount of gray matter in the spinal cord could help doctors track spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) over time and see how well treatments are working, according to a study that found…

Regulators in the U.S. and the European Union have agreed to review Biogen’s applications seeking approval of a higher dose of Spinraza (nusinersen) for all types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in individuals of…

Gratitude and support from family and healthcare staff can help people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) feel more positive, stay motivated, and plan their lives better, a study found. Programs that focus on gratitude could help patients…

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…

Scholar Rock’s apitegromab led to motor function improvements over a year of treatment in young adults and children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2 or 3 who could sit independently…