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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe characteristic signs and symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy include:
- A loss of balance while walking. You'll likely have a greater tendency to fall backward. This can occur very early on in the disease.
- An inability to aim your eyes properly. This is particularly true when looking downward, or it may occur as a blurring or doubling of vision. This difficulty with focusing the eyes can make some people appear disinterested in conversation because of poor eye contact.
Additional signs and symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy vary from person to person and may mimic those of Parkinson's disease and dementia. These can include:
- Stiffness
- Awkward movements
- Falling
- Problems with speech and swallowing
- Dizziness
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities (apathy)
- Depression and anxiety
- Laughing or crying for no reason
- Forgetfulness
True to its name, the signs and symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy tend to become progressively worse as the disease advances.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience signs and symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy.
- Progressive supranuclear palsy fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/psp/detail_psp.htm. Accessed Dec. 14, 2010.
- Dickson DW, et al. Neuropathology of variants of progressive supranuclear palsy. Current Opinion in Neurology. 2010; 23:394.
- Ropper AH, et al. Degenerative diseases of the nervous system. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3639296&searchStr=progressive+supranuclear+palsy. Accessed Dec. 14, 2010.
- Hyun JH, et al. Behavioral changes as the earliest clinical manifestation of progressive supranuclear palsy. Journal of Clinical Neurology. 2010;6:148.
- Golbe LI. Progressive supranuclear palsy: Some answers. CurePSP. http://www.psp.org/about. Accessed Dec. 14, 2010.
- Stamelou M, et al. Short-term effects of coenzyme Q10 in progressive supranuclear palsy: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Movement Disorders. 2008;23:942.
- Josephs KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 29, 2010.
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