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Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the #1 genetic killer
of children under two. SMA is a devastating and
relatively common children's genetic disease.
While other organizations are working hard to find a
treatment or cure, the Claire Altman Heine Foundation
uses its funding to identify carriers of SMA,
support population based SMA carrier screening,
raise awareness of SMA and educate
the public and medical communities about SMA.
Plan to start a family?
Speak with your doctor or genetic counselor before initiating a pregnancy. You could be a carrier of SMA and not even know it. One in every 40 people carries the mutated gene that causes SMA. That is 7 million Americans. Carriers of the mutated gene for SMA have no symptoms and are not sick. Carriers of SMA typically have no traceable family history of the disease. A simple blood test will determine if you are a carrier.
