Spinal muscular atrophy is both rare and deadly. It’s uncommon enough that most people never worry about it– but the consequences that happen if it goes undetected are devastating.
That’s why its such a huge step forward to get spinal muscular atrophy on the list of diseases newborns are screened for.
As of a report on March 8th, Minnesota becomes one the first states to do so. Keep reading to find out more, or visit the original source for additional details.
Minnesota, as a result of updated technology, becomes a healthcare leader in the states. At least in the field of newborn screening, they’re blazing a trail. Minnesota now boasts two centers ready to perform the screenings. The only other location currently prepared to do so is the Mayo Clinic.
Even though only one in about every 6,000 babies in the United States is affected by spinal muscular atrophy, Minnesota decided not to take the chance. One doctor described the risk as “maybe seven babies” born with the disease each year in the entire state.
Given the consequences of spinal muscular atrophy, even seven is too many. Spinal muscular atrophy leads to degeneration of nerves. This causes muscle weakness which in turn can prevent the patient’s ability to breathe and swallow – eventually leading to death.
With these kinds of stakes, Minnesota began universal screening of newborns for spinal muscular atrophy on March 1st of 2018. Spinal muscular atrophy now joins 60 other diseases on the list that newborns are screened for.
Unless parents opt out of the screening, every newborn baby from now on will be screened for spinal muscular atrophy in addition to the other 60 disease on the list.
And while spinal muscular atrophy certainly seems frightening, the good news is there is a treatment that can be effective if implemented early. The key is treating babies before they begin to show symptoms. Previously the best therapies were only supportive, and could only be administered after the disease had shown itself.
With the use of the new screenings, children’s lives could not only be improved, but ultimately saved.
