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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Parkinson's disease#classification. (Discuss)

Parkinson-plus syndromes, also known as disorders of multiple system degeneration, are a group of neurodegenerative^[1] diseases featuring the classical features of Parkinson's disease (tremor, rigidity, akinesia/bradykinesia, postural instability) with additional features that distinguish them from simple idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Some consider Alzheimer's disease to be in this group. ^[2]

It is said by neurologists that patients presenting with falls early in the course of a Parkinsonian illness are more likely to have a Parkinson-plus syndrome than idiopathic Parkinson's disease.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Types

The Parkinson-plus syndromes and their additional features are:^{[citation needed]}

• Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
  • cerebellar ataxia
  • pyramidal weakness
  • autonomic failure (previously known as Shy-Drager syndrome)^[3]
  • nocturnal stridor
• Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
  • supranuclear palsy of eye movements (failure of voluntary vertical eye movements, especially downward gazing)
  • pseudobulbar palsy
  • dementia
• Corticobasal degeneration (CBD)
  • cognitive impairment, often including some form of aphasia and/or apraxia, and eventually developing to a full dementia
  • myoclonus
• Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
  • early cognitive impairment
  • hallucinations
• Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA)
  • ataxia
  • dysarthria

[edit] Treatment

The Parkinson-plus syndromes are usually more rapidly progressive and less likely to respond to anti-parkinsonian medication than Parkinson's disease. However, the additional features of the diseases may respond to medications not used in Parkinson's disease.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References