Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a progressive brain disease featuring
- Poor coordination and balance
- Slowness and stiffness
- Sympathetic nervous system abnormalities among other problems
MSA is also characterized by postural (or orthostatic) hypotension and excessive drop in blood pressure when the patient stands up, which causes dizziness or momentary blackouts. MSA has been classified clinically into three types: olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), which primarily affects balance, coordination and speech; a Parkinsonian form (striatonigral degeneration), which can resemble Parkinson’s disease because of slow movement and stiff muscles; and a mixed cerebellar and Parkinsonian form.
Recently Diagnosed?
CurePSP offers a variety of resources to patients and their families, other caregivers, physicians, and allied health professionals. If you do not find the information you need here, please call our office at 347-294-2873 or e-mail info@curepsp.org, and we will help you.

Network of Support
CurePSP encourages and organizes activities that foster face-to-face communication, exchange of ideas and information, and interaction for comfort and mutual benefit to group members. The groups are for caregivers, carepartners, family members, friends, and people with PSP, CBD, MSA, or a related disease.
How Can I Help?
CurePSP welcomes donations to its research grants program. Since its inception in 1997, the program it has provided over $13 million to institutions and senior researchers with excellent track records of productivity and to junior people with original ideas and first-rate training.
CurePSP favors projects with the potential to produce preliminary findings that would support an application to a government agency for a much larger grant in the future. It does not restrict its grants to any country or continent. To apply for a grant, or learn more about our research please visit this page.
Another way to help research and yourself is to participate in clinical trials. Please visit our clinical trials page for more information. Also, consider registering with the FTD Disorders Registry for further clinical trial information.
What Are Brain Donations?
Donations to the Brain Bank can make a significant impact in research. CurePSP supports the brain bank located at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. Brains donated there are stored and used only for research in PSP by legitimate researchers who request it. Donating to a brain bank does not interfere with funeral arrangements. Expenses for brain removal will occur, which may be reimbursed in part by CurePSP. The family will receive, at no charge, a full diagnostic autopsy report from the Mayo Clinic pathologist, Dennis W. Dickson, MD, who is one of the world’s foremost authorities on PSP and related disorders. Further information is available from CurePSP or by calling the Brain Bank directly at 904-953-2439. There are several other brain banks throughout the country, generally located at major university hospitals.
MSA Family Story
The Wark Family’s Story
Brochures and Resources
A key part of CurePSP’s mission of care, consciousness, and cure is to provide all relevant, up-to-date information on prime of life brain diseases. These resources are for patients, families, and friends seeking to educate themselves, and others, about these diseases – the causes, symptoms, trajectory, treatments, and management. This information is sourced from credible peer-reviewed scientific sources only, and is updated as breakthroughs in our understanding of these diseases occur.
Request for Information
As part of our mission of Care, Consciousness, and Cure, CurePSP has collated the most relevant, up-to-date information available on PSP, CBD and MSA, and is happy to post to you all materials in our “Request For Information” package. The information package includes various informational brochures, instructional DVDs, and medical alert cards. As the production of these materials has been paid for by donors, we kindly ask you to help the next person who needs them by making a contribution here. To submit your request, click the link below and provide the information requested in the form.
Submit a Request for Information Here
Contact
For any further questions:
CurePSP
1216 Broadway
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 347-294-2873 (CURE)
E-mail: info@curepsp.org
The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition
9935-D Rea Road, #212
Charlotte, NC 28277
Toll Free: 866-737-5999
www.multiplesystematrophy.org