About parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy

What is parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy?

Progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease because it carries similar symptoms. Because of its rarity, PSP is mostly unknown by the general public.

What are the symptoms for parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy?

Having unusual emotional outbursts symptom was found in the parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy condition

Early symptoms:

The beginning stages of PSP include the inability to walk, falling spells, and stiffness. Falls experienced by a PSP patient are often described as having a state of dizziness, prior to actually falling. This Dizziness description is sometimes misdiagnosed as an inner ear problem or a hardening of the arteries that are blocking blood flow to the brain.

Other common symptoms of PSP include:

  • Forgetfulness
  • Change in personality
  • Loss of interest in usual socializing with family and friends

What Are Some of the Later Symptoms of PSP?

The word "progressive" was included in the palsy's name, because symptoms typically progressively worsen for a patient. After seven to nine years, PSP becomes more difficult to deal with. The disease usually causes physical imbalance and stiffness of the body to grow worse, making walking very difficult or sometimes impossible.

Does PSP Affect a Person Mentally?

Most PSP patients eventually experience a mild to moderate degree of mental problems. The slowing of thoughts and thinking makes it hard for the person to hold a conversation with others or to analyze problems.

What are the causes for parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy?

PSP develops because of the deterioration of brain cells in a few small but very important areas at the base of the brain. The most important affected area is the substantia nigra. When this area of the brain is affected by the disease, a lot of the palsy's symptoms become more visible. Research is still being conducted as to why the brain cells degenerate.

What are the treatments for parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy?

There is a range of medication that can help curb PSP's symptoms. Sinemet is sometimes used because it contains levodopa, which aids in controlling shakiness and tremors. Antidepressants are often suggested by doctors, along with sleeping pills, to help PSP patients who are experiencing sleep problems. Many drugs being developed to treat other neurological disorders are also being utilized to help treat PSP.

What are the risk factors for parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disease that primarily affects the posture and movements of body parts. The signs and symptoms of the condition are tremors, bradykinesia, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, and difficulty in writing and speaking.
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare neurological condition that affects voluntary functions such as balance, gait, vision, speech, cognition, and swallowing. It is an atypical form of parkinsonism and is known as Parkinson-plus disorder.

Risk factors
Several studies have established risk factors as follows:
1. Age
Both conditions are highly prevalent in persons in their 60s and 70s, indicating old age is a risk factor.
2. Exposure to chemicals
Occupational and agricultural exposure to certain chemicals is a significant risk factor. According to a study living for a long time around agricultural fields and ranches and drinking well water in rural areas are more likely to expose people to chemicals. The chemicals include:

  • Metals like lead, mercury, tin, zinc, aluminum, manganese
  • Pesticides such as rotenone, and 2,4-D, paraquat
  • Inorganic solvents like acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, xylene
  • Other chemicals include ammonia, oils, water-based cleaners, Nitric oxide
  • Head trauma
  • High caloric intake
  • Increased body mass index
  • Inflammation associated with activation of microglia
  • Methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Oxidative stress
  • Post-infection states
  • Signal-mediated apoptosis

Symptoms
Progressive supranuclear palsy- Becoming more forgetful and cranky,Having unusual emotional outbursts, like crying or laughing at unexpected times,Becoming angry for no real reason,Tremors in the hands,Trouble controlling eye movements,Blurred vision,Slurred speech,Trouble swallowing,Dementia,Depression,Trouble directing your eyes where you want them to go,Inability to control the eyelids, such as unwanted blinking or being unable to open your eyes,Trouble holding someone's gaze
Parkinson's disease- Tremor,Slowed movement (bradykinesia),Rigid muscles,Impaired posture and balance,Loss of automatic movements,Speech changes,Writing changes
Conditions
Progressive supranuclear palsy- A complex condition that affects the brain
Parkinson's disease- A brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination
Drugs

Progressive supranuclear palsy- People in the early stages of the condition may benefit from taking levodopa, amantadine or other medications used to treat Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease- Levodopa,Dopamine agonists,Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors

Is there a cure/medications for parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy?

There is no cure for PSP. Care should be focused on keeping the person comfortable and creating the best quality of life possible.

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