Registration for the Conference on Standard of Care and Therapeutic Advances for Spinal Muscular Atrophy is now open Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the leading genetic killer of babies and toddlers under the age of two.   •   SMA is a genetic disease characterized by a degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord.   •   SMA rapidly destroys a child's muscle control and strength, leading to the progressive inability to walk, stand, sit up, eat, and ultimately, breathe.   •   There are three types of SMA (I, II and III). SMA Type I is the most severe. In 80% of affected Type 1 children, death occurs before age one.   •   An estimated 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 infants are born with SMA.   •   1 in 35 people are carriers for SMA.