Fact 6. The Neurological Impact of MSA
To fully grasp MSA’s nature, one must understand its impact on the nervous system. The disease primarily targets the autonomic nervous system and parts of the brain that regulate motor functions. It’s like an unseen vandal, gradually causing disarray in areas critical to everyday functioning.
The autonomic nervous system, a part of the body we rarely think about, oversees many functions we take for granted – from heart rate regulation to digestion. When MSA strikes, it causes a dysfunction in this system, known as autonomic failure. The consequences of this can be seen in symptoms such as orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down), urinary problems, and sexual dysfunction.
Simultaneously, MSA disrupts areas of the brain that control motor functions, such as the basal ganglia and cerebellum. This is where the symptoms like ataxia (impaired coordination), bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and muscle rigidity originate from. (6)
