What Is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy?
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare brain disorder. It causes serious and permanent problems with control of gait (walking) and balance.
The most obvious sign of the disease is when you can't aim your eyes properly. This occurs because of lesions in the area of the brain that coordinates eye movements. Some patients describe this effect as a blurring.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Symptoms
When brain cells in the brainstem deteriorate, they cause symptoms of PSP. PSP patients often show alterations of mood and behavior. These can include:
- depression,
- apathy, or
- progressive mild dementia.
The pattern of signs and symptoms, however, can be quite different from person to person.