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By Mayo Clinic staffProgressive 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.
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