NY K01049

Requests Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 15, 2026, as Stiff Person Syndrome Awareness Day in New York State, coinciding with International Stiff Person Syndrome Awareness Day

Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder causing involuntary muscle contractions and spasms, affecting approximately one to two individuals per one million in North America

Symptoms include persistent or intermittent muscle spasms triggered by surprise, sudden movement, cold temperatures, emotional stress, or touch, and can be painful

The cause is unknown but believed to result from antibodies blocking the GAD enzyme, which helps produce the GABA neurotransmitter that normally reduces nerve signals

There is currently no cure for SPS; treatment focuses on symptom management through therapies and medications