Adults Living with SMA

ADULTS

LIVING WITH SMA

“When I got the diagnosis, I was 16, going on my 17, I took it pretty good because it was putting a name on what I had.”
- Samuel

VOICES FROM PEOPLE LIVING WITH SMA

Once thought to be primarily a childhood disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can be diagnosed in adolescents, young adults and even those beyond 21 years of age.¹

A CAREGIVER’S PERSPECTIVE:

“I wish I had pushed harder”

A caregiver of a young adult living with SMA and his family’s journey.

Signs and Symptoms

“If I would have known the disease, I would have done differently one thing: get back to the doctor, get back to the doctor like every five minutes! Because there was something wrong, for sure. … see a specialist, don’t wait, because the more you wait, the more regression they have. It can’t come back.”

by Michel

A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE:

“I’m Normal. Just Different”

A young adult living with SMA, who was diagnosed as an adolescent and his perspective on life with SMA.

How to get diagnosed

“My advice for teenagers with SMA or that they think they have SMA is to speak about it. [...] I could not say to dad – hey dad can we go to the doctor, I think there’s something wrong.

Talk about it, because you live with it, it’s your body. If you are a kid and you question yourself - Am I crazy or I can’t do it. Look it up, google, type in “I can’t lift my arm with a 10 pound weight” and a bunch of results are gonna pop up. Take those proofs, go to dad or mum and say let’s go to the doctor!”

by Samuel

‘LIFE WITH SMA’ VIRTUAL
EXPERIENCE

Every individual living with SMA should be able to
enjoy equal opportunities, whether at work, at home,
or in their social lives.

That's why Biogen has created 'Life With SMA' —
a virtual experience developed in close collaboration
with people living with SMA and various groups such
as the European Alliance of Neuromuscular Disorders
Associations (EAMDA).

The ‘Life With SMA’ virtual experience offers tips and advice to young adults and teenagers on how to successfully navigate daily tasks related to:

Independent living

Education

Employment

Deep dive into the experience through its simple navigation – manual or automatic – and download the key takeaways available after each chapter

Start the tour now

LIVING WITH SMA AS AN ADULT

Without intervention, people living with Type II/III SMA will see progression of their disease over time, so it’s important to stabilise and maintain motor function as early as possible.²

For people living with SMA, care outcomes today are better than they have ever been.

Talk to your doctor today to discuss options for disease stabilisation and improvement.

A lot has changed in the quality of care offered to people living with SMA. Ongoing research is providing an ever-increasing understanding of the science behind SMA and care options.^3-5

SMA Care for Adults

SMA Community

CONNECT

to learn more about how to be part of the SMA community

Discover Communities

The characters shown are real patients and the required consent to use their stories has been obtained from the patients and families. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only.

References

1. NIH. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Factsheet: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Spinal-Muscular-Atrophy-Fact-Sheet

2. Kaufmann P, et al. Prospective cohort study of spinal muscular atrophy types 2 and 3. Neurol 2012;79:1889-1897.

3. Mercuri E, et al. Diagnosis and management of spinal muscular atrophy: Part 1: Recommendations for diagnosis, rehabilitation, orthopedic and nutritional care. Neuromuscul Disord 2018;28(2):103-115.

4. Finkel R, et al. Diagnosis and management of spinal muscular atrophy: Part 2: Pulmonary and acute care; medications, supplements and immunizations; other organ systems; and ethics. Neuromuscul Disord 2018;28(3):197-207.

5. Juntas Morales R, et al. Adult-onset spinal muscular atrophy: An update. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2017;173(5):308-319.