Parkinson plus syndrome

Parkinson-plus syndromes are a group of 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.

The Parkinson-plus syndromes and their additional features are:


 * Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
 * cerebellar ataxia
 * pyramidal weakness
 * autonomic failure (previously known as Shy-Drager syndrome)
 * nocturnal stridor
 * Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
 * failure of voluntary vertical eye movements
 * early dementia
 * Corticobasal degeneration (CBD)
 * cognitive impairment
 * apraxia
 * myoclonus
 * Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
 * early cognitive impairment
 * hallucinations
 * Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA)
 * ataxia
 * dysarthria

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.

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.