Testing newborns for spinal muscular atrophy – screening programme begins in Scotland

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Scotland has become the first UK nation to screen all newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy. Here is what you need to know.

What is spinal muscular atrophy and how does it affect babies?

Spinal muscular atrophy is a motor neurone disease that starts during infancy. There are different types of SMA, which vary in how severely they affect the child. The most severe type of SMA is, sadly, the most common. Untreated, babies with the most...