YOUR HEALTH

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you enlighten me on my husband's latest diagnosis -progressive supranuclear palsy? Three years ago he was diagnosed with dementia. We recently changed to another neurologist, and he made this present diagnosis. Please address it. -H.S.

ANSWER: Progressive supranuclear palsy -PSP -is being recognized with greater frequency. Dudley Moore, the star of the popular movie "Arthur," suffered from it, and he helped give it the recognition it deserves.

Frequently, PSP begins with a person losing his or her sense of balance. In addition, the eyes cannot turn downward, so the combination of balance loss and inability to see the ground make falls inevitable. Muscles become rigid, as they do in Parkinson's disease, for which it is often mistaken. Personality changes are common. Dementia symptoms such as apathy, poor judgment and slow thinking

are other parts of the PSP picture. Memory, however, is often unaffected.

The cause has not been ascertained. Its name comes about because the part of the brain that controls eye movement is affected. That section of the brain lies in nuclei that have a direct input into eye-muscle function. Nuclei are nests of nerve cells that have a distinctive job. The area of brain above those nuclei, the "supranuclear" area, greatly affects the eye-movement nuclei, so a disturbance there influences eye movement.

There is no specific medicine for PSP. Drugs used in Parkinson's disease are often prescribed. If eye movement is majorly impaired, glasses with prisms permit downward vision even if the eyes won't move in that direction. Upward eye movement also becomes affected in time.

Your husband and all PSP patients should contact The Society for Progressive

Supranuclear Palsy for timely information and help. You can reach the society at 1800-457-4777. Canadians must dial 1-866-457-4777. The Web site is www.psp.org.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In preparation for the hurricane season, everyone stocks a large supply of batteries and stores them in the refrigerator.

Can this practice have an adverse effect on food and one's health? -B.M.

ANSWER: Not that I know of. I keep batteries in the refrigerator even though I have been told it doesn't prolong their life. At least I can find them.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475