Progressive Supranuclear Palsy - A Case Study from the Perspective of a Primary Care Physician Son

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare geriatric pathology, from the abnormal deposition of the tau protein, combining the motor tremor and bradykinesia of Parkinson's disease with the cognitive defects of Alzheimer's disease. As physical and mental debilities progressively manifest in PSP, the physician, family, and patient face decisions on how to manage this terminal neurodegenerative disease. Physicians note the outcomes of decisions and often express, either to peers or internally to oneself, how they would handle a similar situation affecting their own family. In this case, we will explore PSP and examine a physician's perspective as his father navigates his journey through it.