27 Jul What Is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)?
Most people have never heard of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). When you do get the diagnosis, you may have a lot of questions. This is patient information for patient and their families with PSP.
Progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP, is an uncommon brain disorder. It causes serious problems with walking, balance and eye movements.
In this disease, brain cells that control the muscles of our bodies and our eyes die.This causes the symptoms. PSP is a disease that has symptoms like those of Parkinson’s disease. PSP comes under the umbrella term “Parkinsonism” which means syndrome of slowness, tightness, loss of balance.
However, in Parkinson’s disease, there is a deficiency of dopamine, while in PSP there are more widespread abnormalities. Because of this, symptoms and treatment are usually quite different.
Parkinsonism is a general term that refers to a that results in one or more of the following condition:
- Bradykinesia – Slow, diminishing voluntary movements. For example, this may result in small handwriting and a fading voice. Automatic movements may also decrease such as natural arm swing when you walk. And you may have a loss of facial expression.
- Tremor (shaking) – Rhythmical movement of a body part.
- Rigidity – Muscle stiffness or tightness.
- Postural instability – Lack of balance and a tendency to fall backwards.
Signs and symptoms of PSP
Signs and symptoms that you may notice include:
- Problems with balance when you walk.
- You may tend to fall backward.
- Changes in your voice and speaking
- Double vision and difficulty looking in bright light.
- Problems controlling your bladder.
As the disease progresses you may notice the following:
- Trouble swallowing.
- Behavior changes such as impulsive behavior.
- Apathy or lack of interest or emotion.
- Depression and anxiety.
- Trouble focusing your eyes.
Cause
The cause of PSP is not known. Researchers have not found that PSP runs in families. Generally, unless there is some kind of family history of PSP, there is no need for family members to be tested.
Diagnosis
It may be hard to diagnose PSP at first. Many of the symptoms may be like those of Parkinson’s disease, dementia or other disorders. It is important to consult with Movement Disorder Fellowship trained Neurologist who is an expert in Parkinsonism such as PSP.
Tests needed
You may have a brain MRI or other kind of brain scan to diagnose PSP. You also may have general blood and urine tests to rule out other diseases.
Other tests depend on the kinds of symptoms you have. For example, if you have trouble swallowing, you may have a swallowing evaluation. If you have trouble with your memory, you may have psychometric tests. Your symptoms depend on the part of the brain that is affected.
Living with PSP
You and your family can do some things at home to help with your symptoms. You may have to make changes to your house to make it safer for you:
- Put grab bars in the bathroom and in hallways to help you avoid falls
- Use a walker that is weighted to help you avoid falls.
- Remove small rugs or other small items that may be easy to trip over.
For family members and friends
When a loved one is ill, you may forget to take care of yourself. Your support is important to your loved one, so you must take care of your own health. Take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs so that you can stay well and support.
