Due to the similarity
of symptoms – particularly with stiffness, bradykinesia
and movement difficulties - PSP is often confused with Parkinson’s. A significant difference however is that
people with PSP struggle with gazing up or down, whereas people with
Parkinson’s may experience other eye-related problems, including double vision,
uncontrolled blinking or excessive watering. Unfortunately,
this difference may not be obvious in the early stages of the illness when eye
movement difficulties may not yet be seen.
Another difference
between the two conditions is with posture.
People with PSP tend to stand straight or tilt their heads backwards (resulting
in backwards falls), whilst those with Parkinson’s usually bend forwards.
Problems with speech
and swallowing tend to be more common and severe in PSP than in Parkinson’s and
are often more apparent earlier in the course of the illness. Moreover, a sense
of smell may remain intact in PSP whereas it is often lost in Parkinson’s. Tremor - almost universal in those with
Parkinson’s - is rare in PSP.
