Diagnosis

Progressive supranuclear palsy can be difficult to diagnose because signs and symptoms are similar to those of Parkinson's disease. Your doctor may suspect that you have progressive supranuclear palsy rather than Parkinson's disease if you experience:

• A lack of shaking
• A poor or no response to Parkinson's medications
• Difficulty moving your eyes, particularly downward

Your doctor may recommend an MRI to determine if you have shrinkage in specific regions of the brain associated with progressive supranuclear palsy. An MRI can also help to exclude disorders that may mimic progressive supranuclear palsy, such as a stroke.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan also may be recommended to check for early signs of changes in the brain that may not appear on an MRI.