Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
New progressive supranuclear palsy research, summarized each month in plain language.
2026 so far: So far in 2026 (January-September), early PSP trials showed biomarker changes without clear short-term disability change. Management studies focused on swallowing and nutrition, balance rehab, and symptom-targeted care such as dystonia treatment. Read the 2026 review
We also cover clinical trials.
Yearly update
2026 so far
- Early drug signals. Biomarker target engagement outpaced measurable short-term clinical change.
- Treatment differences by sex. Sex-stratified analyses raised questions about who benefits from treatment.
- Swallowing and feeding tubes. Swallowing decline was tracked, while PEG outcomes stayed observational.
- Balance and rehab. Fall-risk measurement and short-term balance rehab signals became clearer.
- Dystonia and other burdens. Clinic cohorts highlighted treatable symptom burdens and caregiver impact.
New
September 2026
- PSP vs Parkinsons. Separate exam, MRI, and spinal-fluid clues showed promise, but none is a proven test for one person.
- Tau PET tracking. Rising tau PET in one deep brain area matched faster worsening.
- Dystonia relief. Botulinum toxin injections reduced dystonia symptoms in treated patients.
- Groaning impact. Groaning was linked to worse daily function and caregiver burden.
August 2026
- TPN-101 results. A spinal fluid injury marker dropped, but disability scores did not.
- Imaging differences. MRI volume measures helped distinguish PSP from Parkinson's; iron scans showed PSP-related patterns.
- Wearable gait tests. Wearable walking measures separated PSP from Parkinson's, with some variability.
- Dream enactment. Dream-enactment symptoms were reported in about 1 in 5 people.
July 2026
- Multiple test diagnosis. Studies leaned toward combining tests rather than one test.
- MRI progression staging. MRI staging matched symptom change over time more closely.
- Davunetide by sex. Signals looked stronger in women than men, but not proven.
June 2026
- MRI diagnosis index. One MRI index separated PSP from similar movement disorders well.
- Ventricle size caution. Large ventricles in PSP can be mistaken for hydrocephalus.
- Balance training. Small studies reported short-term balance gains with supervised therapy.
- Cognitive change pattern. Changes often involved planning, visual-spatial skills, and word-finding.
May 2026
- MRI helps tell PSP from Parkinson’s. Computer analysis of routine MRI brainstem patterns helped distinguish PSP from Parkinson’s disease in a validation group.
- Blood and skin markers still overlap. Research studies found possible signals in blood and skin, but some results overlapped across diseases so no single marker looked definitive.
- Daily symptoms that affect routines. Studies highlighted problems with social thinking, swallowing, and sleep as common day-to-day burdens in PSP.
- Cell transport and stress signals. Genetic and cell studies pointed to disrupted internal transport systems and cell stress responses, alongside tau-related changes.
April 2026
- Thalamus MRI signal. MRI measures of specific thalamus subregions separated PSP from Parkinson’s disease very well in one large study.
- Early test signals. Finger-tapping, skin biopsy, and spinal-fluid studies reported differences between PSP and related disorders, but the evidence is still early.
- MIBG scan limits. In routine care, medications and other illnesses often complicate interpretation of cardiac MIBG scan results.
- Brain changes beyond tau. Studies also pointed to changes involving support cells, cellular energy use, and protein waste-clearance pathways, in addition to tau.
March 2026
- Tau marker drop (bepranemab). Bepranemab lowered a tau-related measure in spinal fluid, but it is still unclear whether this translates into symptom improvement.
- Lab-only treatment signal (GV1001). GV1001 improved tau-related changes in lab and animal models, but it has not been shown to help people with PSP.
- Early PSP can look atypical. Early PSP may begin with memory or thinking symptoms and may show few movement signs at first.
- Swallowing changes over time. Studies tracking people over time found that swallowing problems can measurably worsen in PSP.
February 2026
- Scans that separate PSP. Imaging methods that combine multiple scan features more often distinguished PSP from similar disorders than single measures, supporting a more pattern-based approach to diagnosis.
- Vision and thinking in daily life. Studies highlighted that PSP can strongly affect vision-related daily functioning and that executive thinking problems may be under-recognized compared with objective testing.
- What tau PET tracks over time. Tau PET signal increased over time in certain deep brain regions, but those scan changes did not match symptom change in a simple way.
- Lab and animal treatment signals. In lab and animal models, some approaches reduced tau-related changes and improved behavior measures, but these findings do not show outcomes in people with PSP.
January 2026
- Feeding tube outcomes. Feeding tubes linked to longer survival, not fewer aspiration pneumonia admissions.
- Fall risk after discharge. Lower balance test scores linked to more falls within a month.
- Walking at home. Wearables suggested home walking differs from clinic walking tests.
- Research tests for PSP. Blood, eye, and brain tests separated groups, not individuals.
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