Q. A friend of mine was diagnosed with Jumping Frenchmen of Maine. Have you ever heard of this?

Not until now.

Jumping Frenchmen of Maine is a rare, unexplained disorder that produces an extreme startle reaction to a sudden noise or sight.

Jumping Frenchmen of Maine was first identified during the late 1800s in Maine and the Canadian province of Quebec.

It was discovered among an isolated population of French-Canadian lumberjacks.

Since the discovery, the extreme startle reaction has been found in other societies in many parts of the world.

Jumping Frenchmen of Maine is one of almost 7,000 rare diseases.

In the United States, a disease is classified as rare if fewer than 200,000 people have it. About 25 million people in the U.S. have a rare or orphan disease.

Some familiar orphan diseases are cystic fibrosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome.

Orphan diseases don’t attract as much research funding as major diseases because they aren’t as profitable to the healthcare industry.

In 1983, Congress passed the Orphan Drug Act (ODA).

The ODA created financial incentives for drug and biologics manufacturers, including tax credits for costs of clinical research, government grant funding, assistance for clinical research, and seven-year periods of exclusive marketing.

At the same time, federal programs began encouraging product development, as well as clinical research for products targeting rare diseases.

Before Congress enacted the ODA, only 38 drugs were approved in the U.S. specifically to treat orphan diseases. Now thousands of officially designated orphan diseases have become treatable.

An excellent source of assistance for these diseases is the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), a 501(c)(3) organization.

NORD is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

NORD, along with its more than 280 patient organization members, is committed to the identification, treatment and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research and patient services. Here’s the contact information:

National Organization for Rare Disorders

55 Kenosia Avenue

Danbury, CT 06810

www.rarediseases.org

New rare diseases are discovered every year. Most are inherited and caused by alterations or defects in genes. Others can be caused by environmental conditions.

If you would like to browse through a list of health conditions, go to the Genetics Home Reference website at:

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/BrowseConditions

Have a question? Email: fred@healthygeezer.com. Order “How To Be A Healthy Geezer,” 218-page compilation of columns: healthygeezer.com

All Rights Reserved © 2026 Fred Cicetti

The Times News, Inc. and affiliates (Lehigh Valley Press) do not endorse or recommend any medical products, processes, or services or provide medical advice. The views of the columnist and column do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Lehigh Valley Press. The article content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, or other qualified health-care provider, with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.