Hydrocephalus in Adults: A Condition Not Just for Children
By Anshika
Understanding hydrocephalus in the adult population, including Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and its often-misdiagnosed symptoms.
When most people think of hydrocephalus, they think of infants and children. But hydrocephalus affects adults too — and it is often misdiagnosed, particularly in the elderly.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
NPH is the most common form of adult hydrocephalus and the most treatable cause of dementia. The classic triad of NPH symptoms is:
**Gait Disturbance:** Usually the first symptom — described as "magnetic gait" where feet feel stuck to the floor.
**Cognitive Decline:** Mild forgetfulness progressing to significant dementia.
**Urinary Incontinence:** Urgency progressing to incontinence.
Why NPH Is Often Missed
NPH mimics other conditions common in the elderly — Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and age-related gait changes. However, unlike these conditions, NPH is treatable. Shunt placement can dramatically improve symptoms, especially gait.
Diagnosis of NPH
Diagnosis involves MRI showing enlarged ventricles out of proportion to brain atrophy, clinical evaluation of the classic triad, and sometimes the "tap test" — removal of 30-50ml of CSF through lumbar puncture; if gait improves temporarily, shunting is likely to help long-term.