Rehabilitation strategies for atypical parkinsonian syndromes: A scoping review of progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal syndrome, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Rehabilitation strategies for atypical parkinsonian syndromes: A scoping review of progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal syndrome, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Where did the research take place?
The study site has not been established. Author addresses may differ from where the research occurred.
US · Author affiliation · country only
Department of Neurology, Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.Location evidence
Tokyo, JP · Author affiliation
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.Location evidence
JP · Author affiliation · country only
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Science, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.Location evidence
New Delhi, IN · Author affiliation
Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.Location evidence
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Original abstract
BackgroundRehabilitation plays a crucial role in maintaining function and independence in neurodegenerative disorders. However, evidence on its effectiveness in atypical parkinsonian syndromes including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) remains fragmented.ObjectiveThis scoping review aimed to comprehensively map the literature on rehabilitation interventions for PSP, MSA, CBS, and DLB, summarize intervention types and outcomes, and identify research gaps.MethodsFollowing PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to May 2025. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed English-language reports on non-invasive rehabilitation such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, with disagreements resolved by consensus or a third reviewer.ResultsSixty studies met inclusion criteria: PSP (n = 32), MSA (n = 20), CBS (n = 5), and DLB (n = 6). Across disorders, rehabilitation was consistently safe and feasible. Gait and balance training, voice and swallowing therapy, and multimodal programs demonstrated short-term benefits in mobility, speech, and quality of life (Class III-IV based on American Academy of Neurology classification).ConclusionsWhile rehabilitation may offer functional benefits across atypical parkinsonian syndromes, high-quality evidence remains limited. This analysis highlights significant gaps in care and underscores the need for early, multidisciplinary, and disease-specific interventions to support mobility and safety. Standardized outcome measures and long-term trials are essential to establish sustained efficacy.