MSA Life Expectancy (Prognosis) Prognosis is currently guarded, with most MSA patients passing away from the disease or its complications within 6-10 years after the onset of symptoms.
People typically live about 7 to 10 years after multiple system atrophy symptoms first appear. However, the survival rate with MSA varies widely.
Currently, there are no treatments to stop or slow the progression of MSA, and there is no cure. However, there are treatments to help people cope with the symptoms. For some individuals, levodopa (a drug used to treat Parkinson's symptoms) may help improve motor function, but the benefits are often short-lived.
MSA damages the nervous system. The disease tends to progress rapidly. About one half of people with MSA-P have lost most of their motor skills within 5 years of onset of the disease.
MSA affects men and women equally, with an average age of onset of approximately 55 years [2, 3]. The mean life expectancy following diagnosis is 7 years [6].
Appetite reduces and weight loss is apparent. Communication becomes too effortful and breathing more bubbly or shallow. Dying is very rarely a dramatic event. In the majority of cases it is an increasing winding down of all bodily functions and everything stopping, death occurring in a peaceful and dignified manner.
In MSA there may be several stages -- alpha-synuclein accumulates in the oligodendroglial cells, then there is failure of mitochondrial function as well as loss of trophic factor support. Then the oligodendroglia degenerate, followed by microglia and astroglial activation.
Listen, listen, listen: Living with MSA can be very isolating. The family may be eager to talk about what they are going through so listening and showing empathy can be one of the most helpful things you can do. Or they may just want a light, fun evening with laughter. Pay attention to their cues and follow their lead.
The disease was first known as Shy-Drager Syndrome. Currently, it is believed that MSA is “sporadic,” meaning that there are no established genetic or environmental factors that cause the disease. A few reports have described families with MSA, but this finding is probably very rare.
Sleep disorders in patients with MSA include rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and nocturnal sleep disturbances. Previous studies showed that 69% to 100% of patients with MSA experience RBD.
Higher H-Y stage indicates a more severe neuromuscular state in MSA-P and is considered to be related to higher energy expenditure and decrease of BMI. Patients with MSA-P lose weight as the disease progresses.
This explains why some symptoms of MSA such as a tremor or speech difficulty can seem temporarily worse in stressful situations. Feeling anxious and worried is a familiar feeling for many people affected by MSA and it can easily become an unhelpful cycle.
As already mentioned, individuals with MSA undergo motor and muscle degeneration as the disease progresses. Physiotherapists can help maintain muscle range of motion and tone by using passive range of motion in combination with an exercise program that includes resistance training and/or gait/balance training.
We found that 30 MSA patients (46.15%) suffered from pain. There was a trend towards a higher prevalence in MSA-P compared to MSA-C patients although the difference was not significant, which might be due to the small sample size. Few studies have investigated the pain mechanism in MSA patients.
Indeed, a patient with MSA may present with vocal fold paralysis, and respiratory distress may be the initial symptom.
Most cases of multiple system atrophy are sporadic, which means they occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. Rarely, the condition has been reported to run in families; however, it usually does not have a clear pattern of inheritance.
Red flags supporting the diagnosis of MSA include the following: Orofacial dystonia. Disproportionate antecollis. Severe anterior flexion of the spine (camptocormia)
At present, there are no therapies that can reverse or slow the progression of MSA.
History of both smoking and heavy alcohol use contributes to earlier onset in MSA of 4.3 years.
The movement-disorder component of MSA is usually treated with levodopa, dopaminergic agonists, anticholinergic agents, or amantadine, but results are rarely as favorable in MSA as in classic Parkinson disease.
In general, life expectancy is shorter than usual for Cerebellar Degenerative Ataxia patients. Many, however, may live into their 50s or even their 60s.
The progression of MSA varies, but the condition does not go into remission. As the disorder progresses, daily activities become more difficult. Possible complications include: Breathing problems during sleep.
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disorder. There are two main types: the parkinsonian type (MSA-P) and cerebellar type (MSA-C). The disease usually presents with genitourinary dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder.
Sudden death in MSA is hypothesized to be a consequence of disordered central respiration, suffocation caused by sputum and food, upper airway obstruction from NPPV acting on a floppy epiglottis, cardiac autonomic disturbance, or a combination of these factors.
Slowness of movement and feeling stiff
A person with MSA has much slower movements than normal (bradykinesia). This can make it difficult to carry out everyday tasks. Movement is hard to initiate, and the person will often have a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps.