Fri, Sep 15, 6:01 PM (3 days ago)
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Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) announced that she will not seek reelection in 2024 after having been diagnosed with the rare degenerative disorder progressive supranuclear palsy.
The 55-year-old representative of northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley was misdiagnosed in April with Parkinson’s disease, a common mistake because the early symptoms of the disorder are similar to the more common neurological disorder.
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On advice from her physician, Wexton will not seek a fourth term in Congress and will spend her remaining years with her husband and two sons.
What is progressive supranuclear palsy?
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disorder that impairs walking, balance, and eye movements. Abnormal speech, memory loss, and tremors are also associated with the Parkinson’s diseaselike variation of the disorder.
More progressed stages of the disorder also result in difficulty swallowing due to loss of muscle control.
Approximately 5 in 100,000 people live with the disorder, with 1 in 100,000 receiving a new diagnosis each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Although the cause of the disorder is not fully understood, there appears to be no genetic or hereditary link.
Is there a cure, and are there treatments?
“There is no ‘getting better’ with PSP,” Wexton posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I’ll continue treatment options to manage my symptoms, but they don’t work as well with my condition as they do for Parkinsons.”
Antiparkinsonian oral medications can temporarily relieve certain symptoms, including balance problems, stiff muscles and slow movements, and tremors, but results vary by patient. Wexton failed to respond to traditional Parkinson’s disease treatment, prompting further investigation into her condition.
Antidepressants and talk therapy can be beneficial for the mental health consequences of the diagnosis.
To treat problems with eye movement and dry eye, patients also often require artificial tears or specialty glasses to assist with vision or light sensitivity.
As the condition progresses, a walker or wheelchair assistance may be necessary due to walking and balance impairment. If the patient develops severe problems swallowing, a feeding tube may need to be placed in the abdomen.
Currently, there is no known cure.
Is progressive supranuclear palsy fatal?
People diagnosed with the disorder typically live between six and nine years after their diagnosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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“Aspiration pneumonia is the most common cause of death in people with PSP,” the Cleveland Clinic said. “It happens when the muscles in your throat become weak and uncoordinated and food and liquids accidentally trickle down your windpipe and into your lungs.”
Serious injury or head trauma due to falls is also a common cause of death for people diagnosed with the disorder.
