Risdiplam improves subjective swallowing quality in non-ambulatory adult patients with 5q-spinal muscular atrophy despite advanced motor impairment.

The improvement in subjective swallowing quality under risdiplam treatment, despite an advanced disease stage with severe motor deficits, strengthens the importance of a standardized bulbar assessment in addition to established motor scores. This may reveal relevant treatment effects and help individualize treatment decisions in the future.