Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a very rare autoimmune disorder.
It causes progressively increasing muscle stiffness and can lead to painful spasms and falls.
The disease can also affect breathing, swallowing, and speech.
According to LADbible, SPS affects approximately one to two people per million in the United States.
Also read: Moderna's mRNA flu shot cleared for older adults ahead of the 2026-27 flu season
Promising trial
A new study involving 26 adult patients was presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in April 2026 and published in Nature Reviews Neurology.
Around four months after treatment, all participants were able to walk faster.
Eight of the 12 patients who had previously relied on walking aids no longer needed them.
Researchers describe the results as promising but stress that longer-term studies are still needed.
Also read: 8 foods that may improve sleep quality, according to a 2026 review of melatonin-rich diets
Céline Dion’s diagnosis
The treatment is based on a modified form of CAR T-cell therapy, which is typically used to treat cancer.
In this case, a patient’s own cells are used to target the cells that help drive the disease.
Céline Dion revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with SPS. Two years later, the Céline Dion Foundation donated $2 million to research into the disease, according to WGNTV.
That support has helped advance research that now points to a potential new treatment for the rare condition.
Also read: One open window could fix the bedroom air that is quietly dragging down your sleep
Sources: LADbible, American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting 2026, Nature Reviews Neurology, and WGNTV.
Also read: Weak circadian rhythms linked to 2.5 times higher dementia risk in older adults