Loss of muscle mass, also called muscle wasting or atrophy, can happen gradually as part of getting older or more suddenly due to underlying medical conditions. Other factors can contribute, like ...

Distal spinal muscular atrophy (DSMA) is a rare genetic disease that causes a loss of muscle movement. It affects muscles further away from the center of the body, such as the hands, feet, and legs.

Adult-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disorder that primarily affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. SMA is part of a group ...

Muscle atrophy is a primary characteristic of both sarcopenia and cachexia, significantly impacting physical function and quality of life. This figure illustrates the multifaceted causes of muscle ...

More than 30 rare muscular dystrophy types cause progressive muscle weakness from inherited gene mutations. Combined, they affect about 1 in 5,000 to 8,000 people. Common subtypes vary by age of onset ...