Are you born with PSP?

The condition has been linked to changes in certain genes, but these genetic faults are not inherited and the risk to other family members, including children or siblings of someone with PSP, is low.

What age does PSP start?

The only proven risk factor for progressive supranuclear palsy is age. The condition typically affects people in their late 60s and 70s. It's virtually unknown in people under the age of 40.

What triggers PSP?

What causes PSP? PSP occurs when brain cells in certain parts of the brain are damaged as a result of a build-up of a protein called tau. Tau occurs naturally in the brain and is usually broken down before it reaches high levels. In people with PSP, it isn't broken down properly and forms harmful clumps in brain cells.

What are the first signs of PSP?

The most frequent first symptom of PSP is a loss of balance while walking. You may also have abrupt and unexplained falls without loss of consciousness, a stiff and awkward gait, or slow movement. As the disease progresses, most people develop blurred vision and problems controlling eye movement.

Is PSP inherited?

Inheritance. Most cases of progressive supranuclear palsy are sporadic, which means they occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. However, some people with this disorder have had family members with related conditions, such as parkinsonism and a loss of intellectual functions (dementia).

Current challenges in PSP management

What are the 4 stages of PSP?

Is PSP considered a terminal illness?

Although PSP isn't fatal, symptoms do continue to worsen and it can't be cured. Complications that result from worsening symptoms, such as pneumonia (from breathing in food particles while choking during eating), can be life threatening.

How fast does PSP progress?

PSP typically progresses to death in 5 to 7 years,¹ with Richardson syndrome having the fastest rate of progression.

Is PSP a form of dementia?

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a frontotemporal dementia. It is characterised by difficulties with balance, movement, vision, speech and swallowing. It is caused by progressive damage to the cells in the brain that control eye movements.

What happens in the last stages of PSP?

Advanced stages

As PSP progresses to an advanced stage, people with the condition normally begin to experience increasing difficulties controlling the muscles of their mouth, throat and tongue. Speech may become increasingly slow and slurred, making it harder to understand.

What is the life expectancy for PSP?

What is the life expectancy of someone with progressive supranuclear palsy? People with progressive supranuclear palsy typically die six to nine years after their diagnosis. But this can vary. PSP symptoms increase your risk of developing pneumonia, which can be fatal.

What personality changes occur with PSP?

PSP patients typically have deficits in cognitive functioning, difficulties with most daily activities, and present with notable behavioral disturbances—particularly apathy, impulsivity, and irritability.

Is there pain with PSP?

Pain can be present as a direct result of PSP, or as part of any other conditions that you are experiencing.

Can you recover from PSP?

There's currently no cure for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), but there are lots of things that can be done to help manage the symptoms. As PSP can affect many different areas of your health, you'll be cared for by a team of health and social care professionals working together.

Is PSP a form of ALS?

In contrast, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is not regarded as a phenotype of PSP. The co-occurrence of PSP and ALS has recently attracted greater attention. The phenotypic coexistence of PSP and ALS has been documented in several cases [7,8,9].

What are the traits of PSP?

As originally described, PSP was characterized by progressive supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, gait disorder and postural instability, dysarthria, dysphagia, rigidity, and frontal cognitive disturbance [1].

How rare is PSP disease?

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare brain disorder that causes dementia and problems with walking and balance. About 20,000 Americans — or one in every 100,000 people over age 60 — have PSP.

What celebrity has PSP?

In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, singer Linda Ronstadt discusses how progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) has forced her to retire and how she has come to accept her diagnosis.

Who are the famous people with PSP?

PSP is one of several progressive prime-of-life diseases that has claimed the lives of actors Robin Williams and Dudley Moore, and billionaire financier Richard Rainwater.

What is the 4th stage of PSP disease?

Advanced stage: In the advanced stage of PSP, individuals may become wheelchair-bound and require assistance with daily activities such as eating, dressing, and bathing. Symptoms such as rigidity, spasticity, and involuntary movements become more severe.

How can I help someone with PSP?

Physical therapy and occupational therapy, to improve balance. Facial exercises, talking keyboards, gait and balance training also can help with many of the symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy.

Can alcoholism cause PSP?

There was no significant association between PSP and alcohol drinking, smoking habits, anti- inflammatory agent use or specific occupations.

Do people with PSP have seizures?

Among 62 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) seen over a 9-year period, we encountered seven who had seizure phenomena. We suggest that PSP patients have seizures more frequently than has been appreciated.

What are the two types of PSP?

Characteristics of two distinct clinical phenotypes in pathologically proven progressive supranuclear palsy: Richardson's syndrome and PSP-parkinsonism.