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Progressive supranuclear palsy   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Dementia-nuchal dystonia; Richardson-Steele-Olszewski syndrome; Palsy - progressive supranuclear

Definition:

Progressive supranuclear palsy is a disorder associated with damaged nerve cells of the brain and characterized by progressive lack of coordination, stiffness of the neck and trunk, difficulties with eye movement, slow movements, cognitive dysfunction and difficulty walking resulting in falls.

Causes and Risks

Progressive supranuclear palsy was first described as a distinct and separate disorder in 1963 by Richardson, Steele, and Olszewski. It is a disorder characterized by symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, including unsteady gait, stiff movements, and mild dementia. Other similar disorders include dysfunction of the cerebellum, multiple system atrophy, and senile dementia (Alzheimer's type).

The cause is unknown. It is a progressive degenerative condition. The disorder involves damage to multiple cells of the brain, with loss of the myelin sheath (the covering of the nerve cell that speeds nerve impulse conduction) in some nerves and destruction of the entire nerve in other areas.

There are deposits in the tissues that resemble the deposits found in Alzheimer's disease. There is atrophy (loss of tissue) in most areas of the brain. The disorder is most often seen in people over 60 years old, and is somewhat more common in men.

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