Today is Rare Disease Day

As many of you know, MSA (multiple system atrophy) is a rare, sporadic progressive neurological disorder characterized by a varying combination of symptoms and signs. Affected individuals may experience symptoms similar to those found in Parkinson’s disease; cerebellar signs such as progressive impairment of the ability to coordinate voluntary movements (cerebellar ataxia); and impaired functioning of the portion of the nervous system (autonomic nervous system) that regulates certain involuntary body functions (autonomic failure) such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and bowel and bladder control.

When parkinsonian symptoms are predominant, the disorder may be referred to as MSA-P (parkinsonian phenotype); when the cerebellar symptoms are predominate the disorder may be referred to as MSA-C (cerebellar phenotype). The exact cause of MSA is unknown.

For more information, click here for the Rare Disease Day website

For more information specifically for MSA, click here