Spinal Muscular Atrophy Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Walking as if dragging

  • Can't walk without hold onto something

  • Fingers started to have tremors first

  • Abnormal gait

  • Shuffle when I walk

  • Feeling weak after a panic attack

  • Fine tremor of my fingers

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Learn more about Spinal muscular atrophy

Content updated on Sep 20, 2022

What is spinal muscular atrophy?

Spinal muscular atrophy is a group of genetic disorders where a person cannot control their muscle movement due to a loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem. It causes muscle wasting and weakness.

Symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy

  • Difficulty in walking

  • Fine tremor of the hands and fingers

  • Weakness in arms or legs

  • Child refuses to eat

  • Falling frequently

  • Difficulty standing up from sitting position

  • Recent weight loss

  • Difficulty swallowing food or water

Questions your doctor may ask to check for spinal muscular atrophy

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose spinal muscular atrophy

  • Do you have any difficulty walking?

  • Do you have a slight trembling of your fingers?

  • Do you feel any weakness in your arms or legs?

  • Does your child refuse to feed or has problems feeding?

  • Do you feel that you fall over or slip more often?

Treatment for spinal muscular atrophy

There is currently no cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Treatment and support are available to manage symptoms and help achieve the best possible quality of life. The FDA has approved some medications, which are forms of gene therapy.

View the symptoms of Spinal muscular atrophy

References

  • Kolb SJ, Kissel JT. Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Neurol Clin. 2015 Nov;33(4):831-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2015.07.004. PMID: 26515624; PMCID: PMC4628728.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0733861915000614?via%3Dihub

  • Arnold ES, Fischbeck KH. Spinal muscular atrophy. Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;148:591-601. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64076-5.00038-7. PMID: 29478602.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444640765000387?via%3Dihub

  • D'Amico A, Mercuri E, Tiziano FD, Bertini E. Spinal muscular atrophy. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2011 Nov 2;6:71. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-6-71. PMID: 22047105; PMCID: PMC3231874.

    https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1750-1172-6-71

  • Nicolau S, Waldrop MA, Connolly AM, Mendell JR. Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2021 Apr;37:100878. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2021.100878. Epub 2021 Feb 11. PMID: 33892848.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1071909121000061?via%3Dihub

  • Nance JR. Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2020 Oct;26(5):1348-1368. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000918. PMID: 33003005.

    https://journals.lww.com/continuum/Abstract/2020/10000/Spinal_Muscular_Atrophy.13.aspx

User testimonials

Reviewed By:

Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.

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Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD

Neurology

Kameda Medical Center, Japan

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