What is multiple system atrophy symptoms?

The main signs and symptoms are problems with muscle coordination (ataxia), but others may include: Impaired movement and coordination, such as unsteady gait and loss of balance. Slurred, slow or low-volume speech (dysarthria) Visual disturbances, such as blurred or double vision and difficulty focusing your eyes.

What are the first signs of MSA?

The initial symptoms of MSA are often difficult to distinguish from the initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and include:

• slowness of movement, tremor, or rigidity (stiffness)
• clumsiness or incoordination.
• impaired speech, a croaky, quivering voice.

Is MSA an autoimmune disease?

These results suggest distinct autoimmune patterns in MSA and PD. These findings suggest a specific autoimmune physiological mechanism involving responses toward α-syn, differing in neurodegenerative disease with overlapping α-syn pathology.

What causes MSA C?

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurological disorder that affects adult men and women. It is caused by degeneration or atrophy of nerve cells in several areas of the brain.

Is multiple systems atrophy contagious?

Therefore, they suggested that patients should be reassured that multiple system atrophy is not contagious or transmitted from one person to another even with close contact. They also suggested that standard precautions should be taken by people handling multiple system atrophy patients’ brains and other tissues.

Is multiple system atrophy a prion disorder?

Multiple System Atrophy is described as first new human prion disease identified in 50 years. Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a neurodegenerative disorder with similarities to Parkinson’s disease, is caused by a newly discovered type of prion, akin to the misfolded proteins involved in incurable progressive brain diseases such Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), according to two new research papers led by scientists at UC San Francisco.

What is multiple system atrophy?

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) Overview. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, degenerative neurological disorder affecting your body’s involuntary (autonomic) functions, including blood pressure, breathing, bladder function and muscle control.