MSA & Ataxia

[Guest guest]

Multiple System Atrophy is also considered to be a form of ATAXIA.

See: http://www.ataxia.org.uk/about/ for the full article.

" One particular subgroup of people who have later onset ataxia without

affected relatives have a condition called multiple system atrophy (MSA).

This term is used because it is clear from neurological tests that the

person has abnormalities of different parts of the nervous system. Apart

from ataxia, there may be features similar to those seen in Parkinson's

disease, with slowness of movement and stiffness of the arms and legs. More

specific is a problem with the nerve supply to heart, blood vessels, and

bladder. These nerves are part of what is called the autonomic nervous

system. People with MSA may feel dizzy when they stand up because their

blood pressure falls, and they often have difficulties with their bladder

and a feeling of urgency and wanting to pass urine. Impotence (failure to

maintain erections) is also a common early feature. MSA tends to be a rather

more disabling illness that some of the other late onset ataxias. On the

plus side, this is not an inherited disorder so there are negligible risks

of this being passed from one family member to another. Although ataxia can

be a prominent part of MSA, it often mimics Parkinson's disease in the early

stages. "