Excerpt from "What If?" - Movement Disorders Video from the Life in Motion Awareness Campaign

Overview of Multiple System Atrophy

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease marked by a combination of symptoms affecting movement, blood pressure, and other body functions; hence the label "multiple system" atrophy. The cause of MSA is unknown.

Various Forms of MSA
Symptoms of MSA vary in distribution, onset and severity from person to person. Because of this, three different diseases were initially described to encompass this range of symptoms: Shy-Drager syndrome, striatonigral degeneration, and olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

In Shy-Drager syndrome, the most prominent symptoms are those involving the autonomic system, the body system that regulates blood pressure, urinary function, and other functions not involving conscious control. Striatonigral degeneration causes parkinsonian symptoms such as slowed movements and rigidity, while olivopontocerebellar atrophy principally affects balance, coordination, and speech.

These diseases are now considered forms of MSA.

	Symptoms and Complications of Multiple System Atrophy