What is Dystonia?

Dystonia is a neurological muscle disorder that causes uncontrollable, painful spasms in one or more parts of the body. While not widely known, dystonia affects an estimated 500,000 people in North America alone--more than muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease combined. Different forms of the disease affect the face, neck, throat, eyelids, arms, legs or torso. This devastating disease can appear in children and adults alike.

 

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Click here to view the NEW Dystonia Questions and Answers Medical Brochure

 

What causes it?

There is no real answer to this puzzling question. There is no definitive test or diagnosis for this disease, nor is there a known cure. Dystonia is under-researched. As hundreds of thousands of adults and children suffer from symptoms related to the disease, a large majority of patients never receive a proper prognosis. Yet dystonia is not well known by the public or the general medical population.

 

Is there a cure?

Although remarkable progress has been made in the study of dystonia in the last few years, there is not a known cure for it yet. Dystonia affects more people than Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington?s disease or Lou Gehrig?s disease combined, yet awareness of dystonia is limited. More research, treatments and education about its diagnosis are needed before a cure can be found.

 

How you can help?

Something must be done to build public awareness of the disease and the need for funds for medical research. You can help. And we need your help. This charitable cause dramatically differs from any other medical cause because this disease is virtually unknown. In order to fight it, dystonia needs to become better known through public awareness. Increased public awareness will lead to increased research dollars.

  • Contact us (212) 682-9900 and we will tell you about all the events and opportunites going on within the Foundation that you can get involved in.

  • Get your community involved by word of mouth or by starting an event.

  • Make a personal contribution.

Your donation can...

  • Shed light on dystonia, which is now virtually in the dark.
  • Augment research to find a cure.
  • Help many people become properly diagnosed and treated.
  • Improve the quality of someone's life.

 

Think about the power of your donation and what it can accomplish!

Help support our research efforts by Donating Online

 

Or sending your donation via mail to:

The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation, Inc.
The Fred French Building

551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 520

New York, New York 10176

Telephone: 212-682-9900

Fax: 212-682-6156