Progressive supranuclear palsy: a review of co-existing neurodegeneration.
OBJECTIVE
The neuropathological findings of 32 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) cases over a period of 17 years were reviewed.


RESULTS
Of the 26 cases with adequate clinical data, 20 patients either presented with cognitive dysfunction or developed a cognitive impairment subsequently during the course of the disease. Co-existing changes of argyrophilic grains and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) were found in 28% and 32% of the cases respectively. Alzheimer-related pathology was found in 69% of cases but only 18.75% of cases fulfilled the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) criteria for either definite or probable Alzheimer's disease. Lewy bodies were noted in four cases (12.5%), all in the subcortical regions. Only seven cases of PSP showed no pathological evidence of other co-existing neurodegenerative diseases. The severity of the cerebrovascular pathology in this cohort was insufficient to explain any clinical symptomatology.


CONCLUSIONS
As in previous studies, this study has demonstrated the frequent co-existence of pathological changes usually noted in other neurodegenerative diseases in PSP. Whether these co-existing pathological changes contribute to the cognitive impairment in PSP remains uncertain.
Keith-Rokosh
J
J
Department of Pathology, London Health Sciences Centre and University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Ang
L C
LC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016631:Lewy Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009864:Ontario; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016622:Silver Staining; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology