Overview
It can be difficult for healthcare providers to efficiently diagnose PSP. They often mistake it for Parkinson’s disease, especially in the early stages. There’s no single test that can diagnose PSP. Providers usually diagnose PSP based on your symptoms and with imaging tests to take pictures of your brain.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have PSP, they’ll likely recommend a brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This will help rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke. It may also show shrinking of your midbrain, which raises the likelihood of PSP.
You’ll likely need to see a neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders to receive a diagnosis.
Although there are many symptoms of PSP, the one that often confirms the diagnosis is difficulty moving your eyes up and down. Other common symptoms like falling and difficulty swallowing also point to PSP.
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