"What Is Multiple System Atrophy" Brochure

Treatment of MSA About The MS Coalition

The Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) Coalition Parkinson Symptoms: Drugs used for is a 501(c)3 charitable o r g a n i z a t i o n dedicated to Parkinson's disease may provide relief of uniting the MSA community to defeat this rare muscle rigidity, slowness and other motor and terminal neurodegenerative disorder. symptoms for some MSA patients, though The MSA Coalition missionincludes the only in the earlier stages and with less What is Multiple System Atrophy? effectiveness. following four pillars:

Supporting patients and caregivers affected by Autonomic Symptoms: To manage multiple system a t r o p h y autonomic symptoms, patients may consider options such as increasing s a l t Educating patients, c a r e g i v e r s and healthcare intake or taking steroid hormones or other professionals drugs that raise blood pressure. Sleep apnea devices known as CPAP, or Financing and encouraging meaningful Continuous Positive Airway Pressure research toward identifying a cause and finding u cure for MSA machines can help with breathing difficulties. Advocating for issues important to the MSA community, including creating greater Non-Drug Therapies: Physical, speech awareness and occupational therapies offer drug-free tools for keeping muscles strong and flexible, helping prevent falls and other For more information or to donate please incidents that hasten disability. visit The MSA Coalition website at: I T h e MSA Coalition Support - Education - Research - Advocacy www.IMultipleSystemAtrophy.org Prognosis and Outlook There is currently no cure for MSA; however, there are medications t h a t can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. While patients have been known to live up to 18 years with MSA, most succumb to the disorder or its complications within 9 years of diagnosis. The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition® As research continues a n d expands, there is hope that an effective therapy will be 9935-DRea Road, #212 found. Charlotte, NC 28277

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www. M u l t i p l e System A t r o p h y . o r g What is Multiple System Types and Symptoms of MSA Atrophy?

Multiple system atrophy, or MSA, is a MSA-Parkinsonian or MSA-P produces Despite the diagnostic challenge MSA rare,degenerative neurologic condition that Parkinson-like symptoms, including a slow, poses,recent research has yielded affects both men and women, usually shuffling gait, rigid muscles, slurred speech promising results in ways that may help starting in the 50's or early 60's. MSA is and lack of facial expression. Patients with unravel the causes and detection of this considered a type of Parkinsonism, but with MSA-P may also develop a form of tremor disease. Medical science is getting better more widespread effects on the brain and known as resting tremor. at distinguishing the early signs of MSA body. The condition was first identified in from Parkinson's disease and other 1962 and named Shy-Drager syndrome for MSA-Cerebellar or MSA-C is characterized neurologic conditions. two physicians who reported patients who by progressive loss of coordination and showed a combination of Parkinson-like balance;functions controlled by the area of Unique Features: Important differences movement disorders and problems with the the brain known as the cerebellum. Muscle distinguish the symptoms and course of autonomic, or body-regulating division of weakness associated with MSA-C can lead to MSA from Parkinson's disease and other the nervous system. slurred speech and problems swallowing. conditions of the nervous system, such This form of MSA can appear as early as the as cerebellar ataxia or pure autonomic Similarities Between Parkinson's and 20's or not until theGO's. failure (PAF). MSA Dysautonomia in MSA leads to problems Notably, MSA affects several areas of Both Parkinson's disease and MSA are regulating heart rate, blood pressure, the brain,including the cerebellum, your characterized by deposits of a type of breathing, digestion and other internal organ brain's balance and coordination centers, protein known as alpha-synuclein in the functions. Patients may become dizzy or faint and the autonomic nervous system, nervous system. when they sit up or stand up; a condition which controls your body's automatic, or known as neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. regulating functions, such as blood Both conditions also specifically affect cells Loss of bladder or bowel control, abnormal pressure, digestion and temperature. that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter sweating, sexual impotence in men and sleep that controls motor commands.As a result, disturbances, including sleep apnea, and Another distinguishing feature of MSA is many of the same motor dysfunctions occur flailing movements during sleep also occur. the types of cells involved. While in the two conditions. Parkinson's disease affects the Diagnosis of MSA dopamine-producing neurons of a motor- controlling portion of the brain known as At this time there are no specific the nigro-striatial area, MSA affects both symptoms,blood tests or imaging studies that neurons and glial cells -- support cells distinguish MSA. Instead, doctors rely on a that maintain the health of neurons and combination of symptom history, physical which outnumber neurons by 10:1. examination and lab tests to evaluate the Additionally, some of the glial cells motor system, coordination and autonomic affected in MSA produce myelin, the fatty function to arrive at a probable diagnosis. substance that insulates neurons.