Natural history and predictors of survival in progressive supranuclear palsy.

BACKGROUND: Progressive supranuclear palsy is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by high functional disability and rapidly progressive dependency. The predictors of survival are still unclear.

METHODS: The predictors of survival were evaluated in a group of clinically diagnosed PSP patients, focusing primarily on extensive cognitive assessment.

RESULTS: The mean survival time from symptom onset was 8.25±3.0years. Sex, age at onset, education, occupation and severity of extrapyramidal symptoms did not correlate with survival. The only factor associated with a shorter life expectancy in our cohort was the presence of dementia at diagnosis. Impairment of executive functions was the best predictor of an unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that dementia and executive functions need to be evaluated in order to define survival probability in PSP patients.