Q. What is the difference between spinal muscular atrophy and muscular dystrophy?
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Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that results in the progressive weakness and atrophy of skeletal muscles. There are many different types of muscular dystrophy, each caused by a different gene mutation.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder that results in the progressive weakness and atrophy of skeletal muscles, culminating in respiratory failure. SMA is caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene, which codes for the survival motor neuron protein. This protein is essential for the health and function of nerve cells that control muscle movement. Patients with SMA lack this critical protein, which leads to the death of these nerve cells and consequent muscle weakness.