Is PSP a neurodegenerative disease?

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an uncommon degenerative neurological disorder that causes progressive impairment of balance and walking; impaired eye movement, especially in the downward direction; abnormal muscle tone (rigidity); speech difficulties (dysarthria); and problems related to swallowing and eating …

What is neurodegenerative PSP?

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder that has no known cause or cure. It affects brain cells that control balance, walking, coordination, eye movement, speech, swallowing, and thinking.

What is life expectancy with PSP?

With good care and attention to medical needs, nutritional needs, and safety, a person with PSP can live many years. The typical lifespan from the first appearance of symptoms is about 6-10 years. The main causes of death are infections and breathing problems.

Is PSP a form of Parkinson’s?

Progressive supranuclear palsy is rare. It may be easily mistaken for Parkinson disease, which is much more common and has similar symptoms. But with PSP, speech and difficulty swallowing are usually affected more significantly than with Parkinson disease.

What are the 4 stages of PSP?

The four stages are:

  • Early stage.
  • Mid stage.
  • Advanced stage.
  • End of life stage.

How quickly does PSP progress?

PSP typically progresses to death in 5 to 7 years,1 with Richardson syndrome having the fastest rate of progression.

How is PSP different from Parkinson’s?

People with PSP show accumulation of the protein tau in affected brain cells, whereas people with Parkinson’s disease show accumulation of a different protein called alpha-synuclein.

What are the end stages of PSP?

The final stages of PSP are usually dominated by an increasingly severe dysarthria and dysphagia. These features are usually described as being part of a pseudo-bulbar palsy, as brisk jaw and facial jerks may be present.

What is PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy)?

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) Quick Facts of PSP: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder that has no known cause or cure It affects brain cells that control balance, walking, coordination, eye movement, speech, swallowing, and thinking

What is PSP dementia?

Dementia in PSP, if it does occur, does not feature the memory problem that is so apparent in Alzheimer’s disease. Rather, the dementia of PSP is characterized by slowed thought, difficulty resisting impulses and difficulty synthesizing several different ideas into a new idea or plan.

When did PSP become a distinct disease?

In retrospect, at least 12 cases of PSP had appeared in the medical literature between 1909 and 1962, but because of its resemblance to Parkinson’s, it wasn’t recognized as a distinct disease.

What is the pathophysiology of PSP syndrome?

PSP develops because of the deterioration of brain cells in a few small but very important areas at the base of the brain. The most important affected area is the substantia nigra. When this area of the brain is affected by the disease, a lot of the palsy’s symptoms become more visible.