Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body
controlled by the nerves. Symptoms start slowly.
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra.
What are the Symptoms?
Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go
unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side, even after
symptoms begin to affect the limbs on both sides.
Treatments for Parkinson’s disease
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medicines, surgical treatment, and other therapies can
often relieve some symptoms.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological disorder that affects your body movements,
walking and balance, and eye movement. It results from damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain that
control thinking and body movement.
Symptoms of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
PSP affects your movement, control of walking (gait) and balance, speech, swallowing, eye movements
and vision, mood and behavior, and thinking. The most frequent first symptom of PSP is a loss of balance
while walking.
How is PSP different from Parkinson's disease?
There are several key differences between PSP and Parkinson's disease:
People with PSP usually stand exceptionally straight or occasionally tilt their heads backward (and tend to
fall backward). This is termed “axial rigidity.” Those with Parkinson's disease usually bend forward.
Treatments
Currently, there is no treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). In some patients the slowness,
stiffness and balance problems may respond to Parkinson's disease medications but the effect is usually
temporary.