DEAR DR. GOTT: My father passed away a year ago. He was diagnosed with Shy-Drager syndrome. Do you have any information on this? I would love to see something in the paper addressing this syndrome. We didn’t get much information from his doctors but it was listed on his death certificate as one of the causes.

DEAR READER: Shy-Drager syndrome is now known as multiple system atrophy (MSA). It is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that impairs the autonomic (involuntary) functions of the brain. It usually develops in adults between the ages of 50 and 60 and affects men more than women. There is no known cause but atrophy (shrinkage) of the areas of the brain which control blood pressure, heart rate, bladder function, digestion, and more, can be seen on MRI or at autopsy. It is not currently known if there is an inherited component to this disorder.
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