By Dr. Kaushik Mandal Rare diseases very often remain in the shadows, as common people have limited awareness about them. Despite the increased number of patients suffering from rare diseases in India, the awareness of these conditions is low.

We must understand that while rare diseases, by definition, affect a small portion of the population, they collectively impact a significant portion of the global population. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is one such rare but rather severe genetic disorder. And it can go unnoticed, as its symptoms can be wrongly attributed to more common issues.

SMA is caused by defective copies of the SMN1 gene, and it impacts the nerve cells of the spinal cord. Over time, it causes progressive muscle weakness in the limbs and trunk of the body. Of the various forms of SMA, type 1 is the most severe and typically affects infants within their first six months.

Without timely intervention, the disease can be fatal! Understanding the nature of this and recognising its early signs is important, because the lack of awareness surrounding SMA leads to delays in intervention, often until it’s too late to offer significant help. ALSO READ ON ABP LIVE | Air Pollution: How To Counter Lung Cancer Risk When The Air Gets Too Toxic To Breathe SMA Symptoms Can Be Subtle, Confusing A major challenge with SMA type 1 is that its early symptoms can be subtle and easily confused with other more common conditions. For example, if a baby shows signs of muscle weakness, suc.