Multiple System Atrophy

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disorder include:

• Parkinsonism (tremors, muscle rigidity)
• Cerebellar or corticospinal signs (balance and movement difficulties)
• Orthostatic hypotension (drops in blood pressure when body position changes, leading to dizziness, headache, clouding of vision, or fainting)
• Impotence
• Urinary incontinence or retention, usually preceding or within two years after the onset of the motor symptoms
• Reduced sweating, leading to heat intolerance
• Double vision or other vision problems
• Speech problems
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing

Multiple system atrophy occurs twice as often in men as women and is usually diagnosed in people in their 50s to 70s.