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About This Condition
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is characterised by too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles. It typically affects older adults in their 60s and 70s.
Hydrocephalus refers to an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain’s ventricles. Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a type of hydrocephalus that affects older adults, typically those in their 60s and 70s.
Under normal conditions, a delicate balance exists between the production, circulation, and absorption levels of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities of the brain known as “ventricles.” Hydrocephalus develops when cerebrospinal fluid can’t flow through the ventricular system, or when absorption into the blood stream isn’t the same as the amount of cerebrospinal fluid produced.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is characterised by the gradual onset of three symptoms, usually in this order:
Like other types of hydrocephalus, the defining characteristic of normal pressure hydrocephalus is the enlargement of the ventricles in the brain. The expanded ventricles seem to distort the nerve pathways between the brain and the spinal cord, thus causing the symptoms. In some cases, blood flow to the brain decreases as well.
For most people with normal pressure hydrocephalus, the cause of the hydrocephalus cannot be determined. In the other cases, the individual has a history of brain haemorrhage (for example, from an aneurysm rupture or brain trauma) or meningitis. However, it’s not clear why or how these conditions lead to normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus can be difficult to diagnose, since not all of the symptoms may arise at the same time. Furthermore, these symptoms are often associated with other conditions that are common in an aging population (such as Parkinson’s disease, osteoarthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease).
One or more of the following diagnostic tests are typically used to check for normal pressure hydrocephalus:
Referenced path does not exist