SMA diagnosis delays in Brazil cause irreversible motor loss

Health entities and experts are warning that delays in diagnosing and treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Brazil are causing irreversible motor function loss. SMA is a genetic degenerative disease that attacks motor neurons.

Data from the National Institute of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Iname) indicates that Type 1 SMA is diagnosed on average at 5 months of age, with an average wait time of 1.7 years for treatment. In contrast, this interval is often less than a month in other countries. A significant bottleneck is the slow implementation of Law No. 14.154/2021, which aims to expand the neonatal screening program (the