According to a recent press release, Cure SMA, a nonprofit organization for families and patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), is approving a new research grant to Dr. Nilesh Mehta. His project will focus on the nutritional aspect involved with the disease.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects the way the nerves transmit signals to the muscles. In a healthy body, motor neurons carry messages from the brain through the spinal cord to the muscles. However, in SMA these nerve cells die off and the messages never reach the muscles, resulting in atrophy (weakness). According to KidsHealth, SMA is generally an inherited disease meaning it is passed down from both parents having a mutated version of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene.

Currently, there is no cure available for the disease, and treatments only treat the symptoms of the condition. It is a progressive disease that worsens as time goes on. Over time SMA eliminates the strength walk, to swallow, and eventually to breathe as the muscles continue to worsen. Other symptoms include clumsiness, falling a lot, difficulty standing, weakened reflexes and an increased risk of developing respiratory infections, along with several other physical problems. Like any disease, there are different levels of severity. The worst is Type I, in which symptoms begin to show up anywhere from birth until 6 months. The advancement rate of SMA depends on which type the person has, and how old they were when symptoms first started appearing.

Cure SMA, formerly Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA) provides support to families facing the disease, while working on coming up with a treatment and developing a cure. Their research focuses on the biology and causes of the illness, therapeutic approaches, clinical trials, and clinical care. The clinical care aspect funds research concentrates on recognizing daily living concerns for people facing the disease.

Dr. Mehta is inheriting a $50,000 grant for his research, which comes from part of $225,000 that Cure SMA will be issuing to other clinical care studies as well in the coming weeks. His project is entitled “Role of Individualized Metabolic Measurement in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy,” which will explore a unique technique basing nutritional prescriptions on calorie requirements, so the research will be identified to each child’s needs. This study will be taking place at Boston Children’s Hospital and will also measure the fat and muscle mass in participants.

Trouble swallowing is a symptom related to SMA, creating a high risk of malnutrition for some SMA patients. People with SMA also have a hard time exercising, meaning they are eating too much for their individual needs. Several other circumstances also can be added, making it difficult for families and health care professionals to know what a good balance of the diet is for individuals with SMA.

The outcome will aid in establishing how many people with SMA have malnutrition, how many calories are being eaten in relation to how many are needed based on the measurements, and to determine the average body composition in SMA patients. The results will help to enhance issues related to nutrition.