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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Progressive supranuclear palsy, also called Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome, is a brain disorder that causes serious problems with walking, balance and eye movements. Although the cause is unknown, progressive supranuclear palsy results from deterioration of cells in areas of your brain that control movement.
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare disorder that slowly worsens over time. It usually affects adults over the age of 60, though some people are diagnosed as young as age 40. While progressive supranuclear palsy is not life-threatening itself, it can lead to life-threatening complications such as pneumonia and swallowing problems.
Because there's no cure for progressive supranuclear palsy, treatment focuses on managing and improving the disorder's signs and symptoms.
- NINDS progressive supranuclear palsy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/psp/psp_htm?css=print. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
- Progressive supranuclear palsy fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/psp/detail_psp.htm?css=print. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
- Karceski S. Progressive supranuclear palsy. Neurology. 2008;71:e70.
- Borroni B, et al. Tau forms in CSF as a reliable biomarker for progressive supranuclear palsy. Neurology. 2008;71:1796.
- PSP: Some answers. Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. http://www.psp.org/doc_library/1217970611/Some%20Answers.pdf. Accessed Jan.18, 2009.
- Treatments for progressive supranuclear palsy. Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders. http://www.wemove.org/psp/psp_tre.html. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
- Josephs KA, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of progressive supranuclear palsy in the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy brain bank. Movement Disorders. 2003;18:1018.
- Josephs, KA. (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 21, 2009.
