Newborn screening and early treatment for spinal muscular atrophy can save both lives and money Gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy might have a high up-front price tag. But by screening and treating infants early, the therapy can save both lives and money in the long term. By the time an infant with SMA starts showing symptoms, they've already lost 90 per cent of their nerves – which is why early detection and treatment is so important. Photo: Unsplash Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a type of motor neurone disease, is one of the deadliest genetic illnesses an infant can be diagnosed with. Caused by a missing or faulty gene called ‘SMN1’, the disease causes muscles to shrink and become weaker, limiting a baby’s ability to sit, walk, crawl, or even hold their head up.