DEAR DR. GOTT: My son was diagnosed with PSP — progressive supranuclear palsy. I have never heard of this before. He was originally told that he had Parkinson’s. Is there any hope for him? He is 44 years old. I have read as much as possible on this condition and don’t see any relief for him. He falls, slurs his speech, and has difficulty with pain in his legs. These don’t happen all the time, though; some days he is “normal.” Thank you.

DEAR READER: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), also known as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome, is a rare brain disorder. As the name states, it is progressive, meaning it slowly worsens over time. The condition can cause some life-threatening complications such as swallowing difficulty, which may lead to choking or pneumonia.
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