Tales from the Silk Road …and beyond
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Richardson Disease (otherwise known as PSP, or Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) entails the progressive death of neurons or nerve endings in the brainstem and basal ganglia above the nuclei in the brain (hence ‘supra’nuclear). This is the area that controls balance, movement, vision (particularly upgaze and downgaze) speech and the ability to swallow.
PSP is a difficult disease to diagnose, particularly in its early stages, when it often mimics Parkinson's and other related diseases, although it is clinically, biologically and pathologically quite distinct and different from these. There is no blood test or other test yet available to provide a clinician with a diagnostic marker. Pathological examination of brain tissue remains today the only way to confirm a diagnosis. Today, a good neurologist who achieves a ninety percent accuracy in diagnosis by the third year from onset against the ‘gold standard’ is doing well. This is particularly hard both for the patient and their family.
Research worldwide into PSP is still very limited, with
the USA 'Society for PSP' and The PSP Association currently undertaking
the main burden; each sponsoring similar levels of research. Apart from
research sponsored by these two charities, almost all other research
into PSP is part of research into broader fields.
Other research worldwide into PSP is very limited.
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