Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Aspiration

Aspiration is a term used to describe when an individual accidentally inhales a foreign object into their windpipe, airways, and lungs. Aspiration is typically caused by food particles, fluids, saliva, water, stomach contents, smoke, dust, or fumes. When a foreign object is aspirated into the lungs, it can cause partial obstruction of the airway and problems with breathing. The most common causes of aspiration in progressive supranuclear palsy patients are a lack of control of the tongue and an impaired swallowing reflex. Dysphagia describes issues with swallowing due to an underlying problem or structural defect. Dysphagia is common in neurological diseases like dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy because the brain can no longer communicate with the nerves responsible for moving the muscles that produce swallowing. Aspiration increases an individual's risk of developing pneumonia.

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Difficulty Sleeping

Problems with initiating and maintaining a restful sleep are common among individuals with neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy. The problems with sleep in affected individuals have an association with the neuroanatomical parts of the brain affected by the degeneration that occurs in progressive supranuclear palsy being the same parts of the brain that are responsible for housing the individual's sleep/wake regulation system. On average, it can take an individual with progressive supranuclear palsy over an hour to fall asleep compared to between ten and twenty minutes for a healthy individual. Progressive supranuclear palsy patients are known to wake during the night more frequently than healthy individuals. Comorbidities like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are also common in individuals who have progressive supranuclear palsy, which can also contribute to difficulties with sleep.

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