“i have to admit, it’s been a struggle,” dion said. “all i know is singing is what i’ve done all my life, and it’s what i love to do the most … i always give 100 per cent when i do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now.”
what is stiff person syndrome?
stiff person syndrome (sps) is a
neurological condition
characterized by muscle rigidity and sudden, painful muscle spasms. individuals diagnosed with sps may have trouble moving and may become hyper-sensitive to noise, touch or emotional distress, which can trigger spasms.
“people with sps can be too disabled to walk or move, or they are afraid to leave the house because street noises, such as the sound of a horn, can trigger spasms and falls,” according to the u.s.
national institute of neurological disorders and stroke
.
symptoms of sps include progressive muscle stiffness, which usually begins in the torso. over time, muscle stiffness may become more constant and can progress to the limbs and face. sporadic muscle spasms may also begin to develop.
sps is incredibly rare, affecting roughly one person per one million,
according to johns hopkins
. women are more often affected than men.
there is no known cause of sps, however, it is believed it may be an autoimmune condition that creates a deficiency of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (gaba). gaba “helps control muscle movement and prevent hyperexcitibility within the brain and spine,” according to
the u.s. national organization of rare disorders
. this theory suggests the body attacks cells that produce the protein glutamic acid decarboxylase (gad), which is integral to the body’s production of gaba. however, this relationship is not fully understood.