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Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
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Treatment of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)

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There is currently no cure for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). However, there are various treatments and supportive approaches that can help to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life of those affected.

It is a fundamental part of the treatment and is tailored to each person's specific symptoms.

Symptoms include:

Glasses with a tick indicating that they are correct

Visual problems, which may improve with special glasses or prismatic lenses.

Patient talking to healthcare staff

Speech or swallowing difficulties, managed through speech therapy and dietary modifications.

Woman giving a back massage to a patient lying on the stretcher

Walking and balance problems, addressed through physiotherapy and occupational therapy to reduce the risk of falls and help maintain independence.

Folder with a patient's medical history

Urinary incontinence problems, managed with education, specific guidelines, and medical follow-up.

Given the wide range of symptoms, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, involving various healthcare professionals.

Therapeutic education programmes can also be highly beneficial for both patients and for their families.

There are no medications specifically approved for PSP, but certain drugs can help manage some of the symptoms:

  • Drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa or amantadine, may be helpful in some cases.
  • Drugs to control behavioural or anxiety disorders, such as certain neuroleptics.
  • Antidepressants, used when depressive symptoms are present.

Unlike Parkinson's disease, deep brain stimulation surgery is not indicated for PSP.

This is because most people with PSP do not respond to levodopa, and surgery has not been shown to be effective in treating this disease.

Other surgical procedures, although not aimed at treating PSP itself, may be beneficial in some cases for addressing related symptoms, such as cataract surgery or procedures for joint problems. However, these should always be assessed on an individual basis, taking into account the patient's overall condition and the stage of the disease.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in clinical trials for PSP, which is advancing our understanding of the disease. These findings may also be helpful for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Much of the current research is focused on targeting the tau protein, using innovative strategies such as immunotherapy or gene therapy.

Read more Living with the disease
PortalClinic home
Joint project with BBVA Foundation website.This link opens in a new tab.

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Published: 3 March 2026
Updated: 3 March 2026

The donations that can be done through this webpage are exclusively for the benefit of Hospital Clínic of Barcelona through Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica and not for BBVA Foundation, entity that collaborates with the project of PortalClínic.

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