Causes and risk factors of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)

The exact cause of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is not yet known. However, it is known that a protein called tau (4R-tau) accumulates abnormally in the brain of people with this disease, damaging neurons and interfering with their proper functioning.

Other processes may also play a role, including inflammation, oxidative stress (cell damage) and mitochondrial dysfunction. The latter occurs when cells are unable to generate the energy they need, contributing to the progressive deterioration of the brain.

In term of risk factors, it has been observed that in some parts of the world, such as the Caribbean, the Pacific, and northern France, exposure to certain environmental factors, the consumption of certain tropical fruits or exposure to heavy metals, could influence the onset of the disease.

Although PSP is not considered a hereditary disease, certain genetic risk factors (such as specific variants of the gene that encodes the tau protein, among others) have been identified that may increase a person’s susceptibility to developing the disease.