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.
Our Services
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.
