The prevalence of MS in Australia has increased from 103.7 per 100,000 people in 2017 to 131.1 per 100,000 people in 2021.
Around 3,000 people in Australia currently live with the rare parkinsonian condition called Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA), which affects movement, breathing, blood pressure and other body functions.
MSA is a rare disease, affecting potentially 15,000 to 50,000 Americans, including men and women of all racial groups. The cause of MSA is unknown. The vast majority of cases are sporadic, meaning they occur at random.
The prevalence of MSA is reported to be between 3.4-4.9 cases per 100,000 population. The estimated mean incidence is 0.6-0.7 cases per 100,000 person-years.
MSA affects men and women equally, with an average age of onset of approximately 55 years [2, 3].
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.
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.
Sleep and breathing problems are very common in MSA patients. Sleep apnea (momentary lapses in breathing), respiratory stridor (noisy breathing), REM behavior disorder (shouting and acting out dreams) and excessive daytime sleepiness can be among the earliest symptoms of MSA.
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.
PD and MSA patients are prone to pain with insufficient treatment.
When you feel safer, because the 'danger' has passed or because you no longer fear it, your body returns to a more relaxed state. This explains why some symptoms of MSA such as a tremor or speech difficulty can seem temporarily worse in stressful situations.
MRI is useful and indispensable in the diagnosis of MSA and also possibly for monitoring disease progression.
In this unselected referral autopsy series of patients with antemortem diagnoses of MSA, the diagnostic accuracy was about 62%, which is within the range of other autopsy series.
Though dementia is not considered a common characteristic of MSA, cognitive impairment occurs in some patients in the form of loss of verbal memory and verbal fluency1.
There's no cure for multiple system atrophy. Managing the disease involves treating signs and symptoms to make you as comfortable as possible and to maintain your body functions. To treat specific signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend: Medications to raise blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of MSA? Most often, the first clinical symptom a patient will note will be lightheadedness, dizziness, and episodes of passing out, but the first symptoms in some patients may include difficulty initiating movement, body stiffness, urinary incontinence, and increased falls.
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.
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA17, DRPLA) and also late-onset Huntington disease (HD) represent the most frequent genetic misdiagnosis due to the considerable clinical overlap with MSA [5].
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurological disease that causes certain brain areas to deteriorate. Over time, this disrupts abilities and functions handled by those brain areas. This disease is ultimately fatal.
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.
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.
It is documented that fatigue is a symptom of MSA and is prevalent in the early stages while remaining persistent over time. Everyone experiences MSA symptoms differently, and fatigue is no exception. Here are some signs to be mindful of: Weakness or feelings of heaviness, especially in the arms and legs.
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.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Physical therapy can significantly improve motor symptoms through one-on-one exercises and personalized exercise plans. Many of the activities used to enhance movement of individuals with Parkinson's disease are used for people with MSA.