Many patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) have been misdiagnosed as having Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or a vascular disease (such as a stroke). Specialists at UT Southwestern Medical Center have the experience and expertise to recognize and accurately diagnose PSP.
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Diagnosis begins with a thorough physical examination and assessment of the patient’s symptoms. Other tests that are done include:
- A magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain, which can show areas with shrunken volume, particularly in the midbrain
- Blood and spinal fluid tests, which cannot confirm a diagnosis of PSP but can rule out other possible causes for the symptoms
A physician who is familiar with PSP can make a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms, a brain MRI, and absence of a better explanation for the patient’s problems.
