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.
Treating MSA
Currently, there are no treatments to delay the progressive neurodegeneration of MSA, and there is no cure. However, there are treatments to help people cope with the symptoms of MSA. For some individuals, levodopa may improve motor function, but the benefit may not continue as the disease progresses.
A physiotherapist specialised in movement disorders such as MSA can assess walking and balance problems and recommend ways to improve mobility and safety.
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.
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.
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.
Non-drug treatments for MSA include physical therapy and stretching exercises designed to maintain strength and flexibility. Devices which make walking safer, such as a cane or walker, can also be helpful. At present, there are no therapies that can reverse or slow the progression of MSA.
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.
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.
Definition. Multiple system atrophy- parkinsonian type (MSA-P) is a rare condition that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson disease. However, people with MSA-P have more widespread damage to the part of the nervous system that controls important functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating.
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.
Someone with MSA will often feel lightheaded, dizzy and faint after standing up. This is known as postural hypotension and is caused by a drop in blood pressure when you stand up or suddenly change position.
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disease that typically leads to death 6 to 10 years after symptom onset. The rapid evolution renders it crucial to understand the general disease progression and factors affecting the disease course.
This past March, the FDA granted the drug fast track designation for the treatment of MSA. “Biohaven sees the potential for verdiperstat to be the first disease-modifying treatment for MSA. No disease-modifying treatments currently exist for MSA; only symptomatic and palliative therapies are available,” Qureshi said.
There is no specific treatment for MSA. Treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms of the disease. Drugs that are used to treat people with Parkinson's disease, most notably levodopa (given in tablets of Sinemet), may also be prescribed for individuals with MSA.
Eat high-omega-3, cold-water fish 2 to 3 times per week or supplement with omega-3 fatty acids. Sprinkle freshly ground flax seeds, a good vegetarian source of omega-3s, onto hot or cold cereal and drizzle flaxseed oil over salads and vegetables.
Motor impairments are one of the most debilitating aspects of MSA and a primary contributor is muscle wasting which robs patients of their strength and capacity to perform daily tasks and live independently. In the worst cases, failure of the breathing muscles and/or heart can lead to death.
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.
PD and MSA patients are prone to pain with insufficient treatment.
Neither smoking history nor heavy alcohol use influenced overall survival in MSA patients.
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.
Autonomic Symptoms
All people with MSA have autonomic dysfunction, but it varies in severity from person to person. Symptoms can include: Cold hands or feet and heat intolerance, because control of body temperature is impaired.
Whilst MSA doesn't cause loss of sight, there are several symptoms that can occur. People living with MSA may display abnormal eye movements. Most commonly, this is a consequence of impaired or absent convergence, which is the ability to focus both eyes together. This may result in blurred or double vision.
After a year of acupuncture treatment, the patient's condition, measured on the Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS), Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), was found to have improved significantly.
MSA affects men and women equally, with an average age of onset of approximately 55 years [2, 3].