Progressive supranuclear palsy (syndrome of Steele-Richardson-Olszewski) represents one of the neuro-degenerative diseases, difficult to distinguish from other forms of parkinsonism. Although uncommon, the syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent falls in the elderly, especially in cases of parkinsonism presenting with axial rigidity and associated with gaze paralysis and/or poor response to L-dopa-therapy. The diagnosis is mainly based on the clinical findings. At present, no effective therapy is known.