People with this disease experience wasting and loss of muscle mass.
The condition eventually leads to loss of voluntary muscle control.
That said, life expectancy averages five to 10 years.
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What Does Survival Rate Mean?
Causes
Medical researchers arent clear on what causes PMA.
It is considered a sporadic disease, meaning it suddenly occurs and isnt predictable.
That said, theories suggest thatgeneticsand environmental factors play a role in its development.
It has been suggested that PMA may be a variation of ALS.
However, research shows that not everyone with the motor neuron disease has ALS.
Diagnosis
No single test can diagnose a person with PMA.
After that, specific tests may help determine a definitive diagnosis.
Misdiagnosing PMA
Since PMA presents like other diseases, including ALS, misdiagnosis can happen.
Treatment
PMA is aprogressive disease, which means that it will continue to worsen over time.
Some treatment options include:
Coping
Coping with PMA isnt easy.
When you receive a terminal diagnosis, it’s hard to think about anything else.
To maintain your quality of life, it’s important to establish positive coping practices while undergoing treatment.
These might include:
Summary
Progressive muscular atrophy is a motor neuron disease that affects the muscles.
People with PMA develop symptoms such as weakness, loss of muscle mass, and fatigue.
The cause of the disease is unclear, and there is no cure.
Because of that, treatment options revolve around improving a persons quality of life for their remaining years.
While PMA is fatal, many people live with the disease for five or more years following their diagnosis.
doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005213
UMC Utrecht.Progressive muscular atrophy.
Ha, J., Ringel, S.P.
