Cause, seasonality of death and co-morbidities in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes and seasonality of death and co-morbid conditions among progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. 22 consecutive clinicopathologically confirmed PSP patients were compared with 22 gender and age-matched Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 26 non-neurological controls. All subjects consented during life to donate their brains to the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank. Respiratory-related deaths were significantly more frequent in PSP when compared to PD patients. Recurrent respiratory infections were also very frequent in PSP patients and were commonly associated with respiratory-related deaths. Deaths that occurred during winter and spring months accounted for about 70% of deaths among PSP patients. The most common co-morbid condition in PSP was hypertension, present in 50% of cases.