Gene changes linked to autonomic dysfunction syndromes

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare disease that causes things like blood pressure, heart rate and digestion not to work very well. These are things that are “automatically” controlled. It usually occurs in people in their 50s and 60s. It continues to get worse once it starts. Patients usually die from MSA 4 to 7 years after it begins. Right now, there is no cure. We can give drugs to help with the symptoms. We don’t know the cause of MSA. Scientists in Japan and Germany found that it can run in families. That makes us think genetics are involved. Scientists in this project want to look at all gene changes in people with MSA in BioVU. They will look to see if there are any common gene changes that might cause MSA. One Japanese group found a particular gene that might be involved. Scientists in this project will also look for changes in that gene too.