Scotland becomes first part of UK to screen babies for rare muscle disease

Grayce Pearson, three, who has SMA, in the lab where they will test newborns for the condition (Craig Meighan/PA) - (Press Association)

Scotland has become the first part of the UK to screen babies for a rare condition that causes progressive muscle wastage in a move parents have described as a “game-changer”.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can result in muscle weakness, breathing and swallowing issues and a loss of mobility in children.