Celine Dion speaks on surviving Stiff Person Syndrome (2024)

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Celine Dion speaks on surviving Stiff Person Syndrome? ›

Celine Dion has opened up about living with the rare neurological condition stiff person syndrome, saying, “nothing is going to stop me.” Speaking to Vogue France in an interview published Monday, the Canadian-born singer said she was, “well, but it's a lot of work,” adding: “I'm taking it one day at a time.”

Although there is no treatment that cures stiff person syndrome, working with a specialist and maintaining symptom control can make it easier to live with the condition. SPS most commonly develops in people ages 40 to 50, but in rare cases, it occurs in children and older adults.

Patients typically present with initial symptoms between 40 and 60 years, although the onset has been reported in patients who are younger than 40 years and older than 60 years. From symptom onset to death, the course of SPS can range from 6-28 years.

The spasms can either impact the entire body or just a specific area. The legs are the most commonly impacted area for these spasms and often lead to falls. The abdominal area can also experience spasms, causing a person to feel fuller faster and lead to unintended weight loss.

SPS can be readily misdiagnosed as motor neuron disease (ALS or monomelic amyotrophy) if the clinical presentation of rigidity and exaggerated DTR is associated with LMN features.

According to MedicineNet, individuals diagnosed with stiff person syndrome can live between 6 to 28 years from the onset of symptoms before succumbing to the condition. While there is currently no cure for SPS, several treatments aim to manage symptoms or slow down the progression of the disorder.

Though the cause of Stiff Person Syndrome remains unknown, researchers suspect it may be caused by an autoimmune reaction. Specifically, the immune system seems to attack a protein called glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which helps make a substance called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Results: Of 240 individuals with SPSD, 32% reported GI symptoms, most were female (83.1%), and white (74%), with a median age at time of GI symptom onset of 50 ± 13 years. Most common symptoms reported were dysphagia (45%), constipation (40%), and nausea/vomiting (23%).

Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) are twice as likely to have SPS as men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB). SPS can develop at any age, but symptoms most often begin in your 30s and 40s. SPS is also associated with the presence of other autoimmune conditions, such as: Type 1 diabetes.

An upcoming documentary will focus on Celine Dion's health. This summer, fans of the legendary singer will get a close-up look at her journey after she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. The film, titled "I Am: Celine Dion," will be available to stream on Prime Video starting June 25, 2024.

Do any celebrities have stiff person syndrome? ›

Celine Dion, 55, was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022, an extremely rare, long-term disorder that can cause painful muscle spasms and stiffness.

Céline Dion discusses living with stiff person syndrome: 'I want to be the best I can be' The singer was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune neurological disorder in 2022. Jessica is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where she covers TV, movies, and pop culture.

Stiff person syndrome is a rare disease affecting only one or two people per million. It commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that worsen over time. They can be triggered by a variety of things including sudden movement, cold temperature or unexpected loud noises.

This condition was formerly named stiff-man syndrome and is also known as Moersch-Woltman Syndrome. The current clinical classification of SPS includes: Classic SPS. Partial SPS variants.

Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to in the U.S. as Lou Gehrig's disease. As ALS progresses, the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain interfere with messages to muscles in the body. Eventually, muscles atrophy and voluntary control of muscles is lost.

Particularly, some symptoms of SPS may lead to a misdiagnosis of parkinsonism, especially of atypical forms such as CBS. Both SPS and parkinsonian conditions feature an increased muscle tone. Stiffness in SPS is not always bilateral and occasionally involves facial muscles.

Celine Dion's Stiff-Person Syndrome Is Progressing

Previously, she wrote about wellness, fitness, and their intersection with culture at GQ. Last year, Celine Dion revealed she was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscular stiffness and spasms.

With appropriate treatment, SPS symptoms may be kept under control. Several symptoms improve with oral diazepam (an anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant drug) or with drugs that alleviate muscle spasms, such as baclofen or gabapentin.

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare acquired neurological disorder that most often causes progressive muscle stiffness (rigidity) and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms. Muscular rigidity often fluctuates (i.e., grows worse and then improves) and usually occurs along with the muscle spasms.

Background: Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neuroimmunological disorder presenting with a wide variety of signs and symptoms that mimic neuro-inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), thus delaying diagnosis.