The syndrome itself is not deadly, but it can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life. And like many chronic conditions, the associated complications can lead to shortened life expectancy.
Who is at risk of stiff person syndrome?
Anyone at any age can get the condition, said Dr. Richard Nowak, an assistant professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine, but it’s most typical for people in middle adulthood, between 30 and 60, and can be associated with highly stressful events. Like many other immune conditions, it’s more common in women than men, Dr. Newsome said.
Certain autoimmune conditions and cancers have been tied to a slight increase in risk for developing the syndrome, Dr. Tankha said, including diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. However, the risk remains low.
What are the symptoms of stiff person syndrome?
Stiff person syndrome often begins with stiffness in the torso and abdomen, which can then spread to the legs, arms and face, Dr. Tankha said. At first, this decrease in mobility may be infrequent, but over time it can become constant, cause people to walk slightly hunched over or lose the ability to walk altogether. People also can experience painful muscle spasms or continuous aching.
The duration of the spasms can be anywhere from seconds to hours, Dr. Tankha said, and they can be so severe that they break bones or cause patients to fall down. The muscle spasms can be triggered by a variety of environmental factors, such as loud noises, cold temperatures and emotional stress, Dr. Newsome said. The presence of the chronic pain can also lead some patients to develop anxiety, depression and phobias of going outside or trying new activities.
