Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder involving degeneration of anterior horn cells in the spinal cord, resulting in symmetrical muscle weakness and atrophy. It is characterized by adult onset, slow disease progression, and the ability for patients to stand and walk. The disease typically manifests in the third decade of life and is caused by mutations in the SMN1 or SMN2 genes essential for motor neuron survival. Therapeutic strategies for SMA have been reviewed, focusing on clinical features and molecular pathogenesis.