Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a comparatively rare progressive condition, sometimes known as Steele-Richardson-Osliewski syndrome. It affects the brain stem and adjacent areas, and some of its early symptoms resemble those of Parkinson's disease.
PSP mainly occurs in people over the age of 50, although it occasionally affects younger people. One striking symptom is paralysis affecting eye movements and problems with vision. Although there are likely to be problems with more complex and abstract thought, the person will remain aware of what is going on around them. In most cases, the person is more likely to be described as 'experiencing cognitive difficulties' than as 'having dementia'.
