Overview
Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (also known as Richardson syndrome or PSP-Richardson syndrome) is a rare brain disorder that gets worse over time. It belongs to a group of conditions called tauopathies, where an abnormal buildup of a protein called tau damages nerve cells in the brain. The disease mainly affects areas of the brain that control balance, eye movement, swallowing, speech, and thinking. The most recognizable symptom is difficulty moving the eyes, especially looking downward. People with this condition often experience frequent falls, particularly falling backward, stiffness of the body (especially the trunk and neck), slowed movements, and changes in personality or thinking ability. Speech may become slurred, and swallowing can become difficult as the disease progresses. There is currently no cure for classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome, and no treatment can stop or reverse the disease. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life for as long as possible. Medications used for Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa, are sometimes tried but usually provide limited or no benefit. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy play important roles in helping patients maintain function. Research into new therapies targeting the tau protein is ongoing, offering hope for future treatments.
Key symptoms:
Difficulty looking up or down with the eyesFrequent falls, especially falling backwardStiffness in the neck and trunkSlowed movementsProblems with balance and walkingSlurred or slow speechDifficulty swallowingChanges in personality or behaviorProblems with thinking, planning, and memoryA surprised or staring facial expressionBlurred or double visionSleep problemsDepression or apathyDifficulty writing
Clinical phenotype terms (28)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Late onset
Begins later in life, typically after age 50
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsNovartis Pharmaceuticals — PHASE3
SYSNAV
BioSensics
Adam Boxer — PHASE2
Adam Boxer — PHASE2
Adam Boxer — PHASE2
Invicro — EARLY_PHASE1
University of Kiel
University of Pennsylvania — EARLY_PHASE1
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome.
20 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Rare Disease Specialist
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: tDCS as Treatment for Motor Function
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: Improving Prognostic Confidence in Neurodegenerative Diseases Causing Dementia Using Peripheral Biomarkers and Integrative Modeling
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: AI-Enhanced Optimization of Acute Levodopa Challenge Test
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: First-in-Human Study for the Safety and Evaluation of Two 4R Tau Ligands as Potential PET Radioligands for Imaging Tau Protein in the Brain
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: A Molecular Anatomic Imaging Analysis of Tau in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: Facilitating Diagnostics and Prognostics of Parkinsonian Syndromes Using Neuroimaging
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: Synaptic Loss in Multiple System Atrophy
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: Study of Biodistribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Brain Uptake 18F-JSS20-183A
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
New recruiting trial: Study on Artificial Intelligence-Based Facial and Speech-Related Patterns in Parkinson's Disease and Their Digital Biomarkers
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How certain is the diagnosis, and are there other conditions that should be ruled out?,What therapies (physical, speech, occupational) should we start right away?,Are there any clinical trials currently enrolling patients with PSP?,What can we do to reduce the risk of falls and injuries at home?,When should we start planning for swallowing difficulties and possible feeding tube placement?,What medications might help with my specific symptoms, and what are the side effects?,How should we plan for future care needs, including advance directives and palliative care?
Common questions about Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome
What is Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome?
Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (also known as Richardson syndrome or PSP-Richardson syndrome) is a rare brain disorder that gets worse over time. It belongs to a group of conditions called tauopathies, where an abnormal buildup of a protein called tau damages nerve cells in the brain. The disease mainly affects areas of the brain that control balance, eye movement, swallowing, speech, and thinking. The most recognizable symptom is difficulty moving the eyes, especially looking downward. People with this condition often experience frequent falls, particularly falling backward,
How is Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome inherited?
Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome typically begin?
Typical onset of Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome is late onset. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome?
Yes — 20 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome?
25 specialists and care centers treating Classic progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.