As she opens up about her struggle with stiff person syndrome (SPS), Céline Dion is putting her resources toward finding a cure
The beloved Canadian songstress, 56, made a major donation of $2 million to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where Dr. Amanda Piquet is treating her for the rare condition.
‘I am just incredibly honored to receive this recognition to move the field forward with this research,’ said Dr. Piquet, director of Autoimmune Neurology at CU Anschutz, in an interview with CBS News.
‘Stiff person syndrome is a progressive autoimmune neurological disorder that is characterized by two cardinal features – muscle spasms and stiffness,’ she explained.
Dr. Piquet, who is leading the way on SPS research, explained that the condition can ‘take years to get a diagnosis,’ adding: ‘The average time frame is seven years.’
She also recalled how Dion came into her care. ‘She happened to find us, and it was a great relationship, and we worked really hard with her managing those symptoms, getting her on a good treatment pathway,’ said Dr. Piquet.
‘There are no FDA-approved therapies for this disease. We often use immune therapies, and symptomatic therapies to manage the disease.
‘We will also do things like physical therapy, massage therapy, and in Celine’s case vocal therapy to help manage the symptoms,’ she added.
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