Families of SMA Canada Society

Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada (FSMAC) is the national charity dedicated to supporting Canadians affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy and supporting research in a quest to find a cure or treatment for SMA.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease. The motor neurons affect voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. 

It is a relatively common "rare disorder": approximately 1 in 6000 babies are born affected and 1 in 40 people are genetic carriers.

SMA affects muscles throughout the body, although the proximal muscles (muscles closest to the trunk of one's body ie: shoulders, hips, back) are often most severely affected. Weakness in the legs in generally greater than in the arms. Sometimes feeding and swallowing can be affected. Involvement of respiratory muscles (muscles involved in breathing and coughing) can lead to increased tendency for pneumonia and other lung complications.

Sensation and the ability to feel are not affected. Intellectual activity is normal.

Patients are grouped into into 1 of 4 categories based on certain key motor function milestones. Type 1 is the most severe form of the disease, and type 4 the least.

SMA is a genetic disease where both parents are carriers. 2 carrier parents have a 25% chance of parenting a child with SMA. They would have a 50% chance of parenting a child that is a carrier of SMA. They would have a 25% chance of parenting a child that is not a carrier and also does not have the disease.