Progressive supranuclear palsy

In the past four years, four patients with progressive supranuclear palsy have presented to the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oxford, under the care of one of us (RAG). They were all females whose symptoms began in the sixth or seventh decade. They died from three to six years after the onset of symptoms. All had neuropathological studies which are described. The presenting characteristics included frequent falls, difficulty in walking, nuchal rigidity, abnormalities of gaze, pseudobulbar features and mild dementia. These are features particularly common in the elderly and it is suggested that the condition may be under-diagnosed.