Critical Review Ahead of Publication

In a recent commentary in the online website of the Support Group of SMA, it was claimed that scientists had been able to replicate all the Types of human SMA, including Type 4, in a drosophila model of SMA [1]. This sounded bizarre as the different “Types” of SMA are based on the achievement of various motor milestones, such as ability to sit unsupported (“Type 2”) and the ability to stand and walk (“Type 3”.) There is no “Type 4” but it was an effort of the clinicians to separate the classical ambulant cases with onset in adol escence, as described by Kugelberg and Welander in 1956 [2], from the later onset “adult” cases with onset after the age of 21.

Source: Neuromuscular Disorders - May 31, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Victor Dubowitz Tags: Editorial Source Type: research