Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have made a groundbreaking discovery in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an inherited neuromuscular disease. A small pilot clinical trial involving three adults with SMA found that epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can reawaken functionally silent motor neurons, improve leg muscle strength, and walking abilities.
The treatment involves electrical stimulation of the sensory spinal nerves, which gradually improves motoneuron function, reduces fatigue, and increases strength and walking in all participants. The study’s findings suggest that this neurostimulation approach could be used to treat other neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Huntington’s disease.
SMA is a genetic disorder that causes progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and mobility issues. Existing treatments focus on slowing down the disease progression but do not address its root cause. The Pitt researchers’ breakthrough offers new hope for patients with SMA by targeting the degenerative circuit processes responsible for the disease.
The pilot trial enrolled three adults with milder forms of SMA and used SCS electrodes implanted in the lower back region to direct electrical stimulation exclusively to sensory nerve roots. The results showed significant improvements in muscle strength, endurance, and walking abilities, as well as improved neural function.
“This is a major breakthrough in our understanding of SMA and offers new therapeutic possibilities,” said co-corresponding author Elvira Pirondini, PhD. “We are excited about the potential for this treatment to improve the lives of patients with SMA and look forward to conducting further research.”
The study’s findings have been published in [insert publication name] and highlight the promise of SCS as a novel treatment approach for neurodegenerative diseases. Further clinical trials are planned to test the long-term efficacy and safety of electrical spinal cord stimulation.
Source: https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/spinal-cord-stimulation-improves-leg-strength-and-walking-in-adults-with-spinal-muscular-atrophy