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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
The cause of progressive supranuclear palsy isn't known. However, the signs and symptoms of the disease result from deterioration of brain cells in your brainstem, cortex and basal ganglia. These areas of your brain help you control body movements. This explains why their deterioration leads to the coordination and movement problems of the disease.
Although no known cause exists, scientists do have several theories about what might be behind supranuclear palsy. These include:
- A virus. Some speculate that a unique virus enters your body, taking many years before it becomes active and starts causing signs and symptoms.
- Genetic mutations. It's possible that random changes (mutations), which may develop in everyone's genes, occur in specific genes to damage the cells involved in progressive supranuclear palsy.
- Environmental exposure. Some scientists think an unknown chemical in the environment could be what causes this disease. This chemical could be in something you eat, drink or breathe. For example, certain tropical fruits have been linked to progressive supranuclear palsy-like symptoms in people on some Caribbean islands.
- Damage from free radicals. As you process food for energy, your body produces substances called free radicals. Free radicals are believed to contribute to aging and certain diseases. They may damage the brain cells involved with the signs and symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy.
- 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.
