Celine Dion’s Stiff-Person Syndrome Is Not Improving, Her Sister Says
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Celine Dion “doesn’t have control of her muscles,” her sister Claudette Dion told the Canadian website 7 Jours in a recent update on the singer’s battle with a rare autoimmune condition called stiff person syndrome.
Celine, 55, has not performed since March 2020, when she paused her Courage World Tour due to the pandemic. It was set to resume this summer, but she announced that she was canceling the remaining dates, citing her ongoing medical troubles.
“She was always disciplined. She always worked hard,” Claudette told 7 Jours. “In our dreams and in hers, the idea is to return to the stage. In what state? I don’t know.”
What Is Stiff Person Syndrome?
Stiff person syndrome affects one in a million people.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all the spasms that I’ve been having,” Dion said when she revealed her diagnosis last December. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
Symptoms of stiff person syndrome include progressive muscle stiffness and repeated episodes of debilitating muscle spasms, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). But the disease’s progression isn’t linear, and the frequency and intensity of its episodes can vary from person to person. Often there are cycles where people get worse and then get better, according to NORD.
Muscle spasms can occur at random, and it’s not always clear what triggers them. For some, surprising sensory experiences, like sudden noise or physical contact can set off an attack.
Stiff person syndrome occurs more often in women than men, and symptoms typically start during middle age. The condition is also more common in people with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
There is no cure for stiff person syndrome, or any clear way to prevent the condition. Treatment focuses on symptom management and minimizing disability related to the condition.
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