Thank you for your generosity in making a donation in honor of Jim Atkinson! He has Multiple System Atrophy and plans to donate his brain to help others.

MSA is a neurodegenerative disorder with no known cause, treatment, or cure. It affects “multiple systems” in the brain -- the parts of the brain that control blood pressure, walking, balance, speech, vision, and swallowing. Symptoms typically begin in the mid-50s, though symptoms can start in the 40s or 60s. Those with MSA live, on average, 5-8 years after symptom onset.

MSA is about as common as ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) but people only hear the term “MSA” if someone in their family or community is affected. It can be a difficult disease to diagnose because it can look like Parkinson’s. Unlike Parkinson’s, there is no good treatment and survival time is short.

The only way to confirm an MSA diagnosis is for the brain to be examined after death. Wonderfully, Jim Atkinson wants to donate his brain to help others. His family supports this wish, and they contacted Brain Support Network several months ago to make the arrangements. Ideally, all families should contact BSN well in advance of death

Brain Support Network welcomes tax-deductible donations in honor of Jim Atkinson. Charitable contributions allow us to support research of MSA - the neurological disorder Jim is challenged with. We have helped many MSA families since 2007. Donations can be made by credit card online here or by check mailed to Brain Support Network, PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026.

Thank you for your generosity!