Hydrocephalus is a buildup of spinal fluid inside the fluid chambers of the brain. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain."
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a rise in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain that affects brain function. However, the pressure of the fluid is usually normal.
Hydrocephalus - occult; Hydrocephalus - idiopathic; Hydrocephalus - adult; Hydrocephalus - communicating; Dementia - hydrocephalus; NPH
There is no known cause for NPH. But the chance of developing NPH is high in someone who has had any of the following:
As CSF builds up in the brain, the fluid-filled chambers (ventricles) of the brain swell. This causes pressure on brain tissue. This can damage or destroy parts of the brain.
Symptoms of NPH often begin slowly. There are three main symptoms of NPH:
Diagnosis of NPH can be made if any of the above symptoms occur and NPH is suspected and testing is done.
Treatment for NPH usually requires surgery to place a tube called a shunt that routes the excess CSF out of the brain ventricles and into the abdomen. This is called a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
Petra Klinge is a Neurosurgery expert in Providence, Rhode Island. Klinge has been practicing medicine for over 30 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. She is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Tethered Cord Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Laminectomy, and Posterior Fossa Decompression. She is licensed to treat patients in Rhode Island. Klinge is currently accepting new patients.
Ville Leinonen practices in Kuopio, Finland. Leinonen is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Hydrocephalus, Alzheimer's Disease, Laminectomy, and Spinal Fusion.
Johannes Lemcke practices in Berlin, Germany. Lemcke is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Subdural Effusion, Subdural Hematoma, and Endovascular Embolization.
Without treatment, symptoms often get worse and could lead to death.
Surgery improves symptoms in some people. Those with mild symptoms have the best outcome. Walking is the symptom most likely to improve.
Problems that may result from NPH or its treatment include:
Call your provider if:
Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if a sudden change in mental status occurs. This may mean that another disorder has developed.
Summary: Double blinded, sham-controlled, randomized trial on repeated transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS) in neurodegenerative diseases. The investigators will evaluate whether a 4-times daily repeated stimulation with gamma tACS on the posterior parietal cortex can improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia with Lewy Bodies, Alzheimer's disease,...
Summary: The eShunt® System is a minimally invasive method of treating communicating hydrocephalus. The eShunt System includes a proprietary eShunt Delivery System and the eShunt Implant, a permanent implant deployed in a minimally invasive, neuro-interventional procedure. The eShunt System is intended to shunt cerebrospinal fluid from the intracranial subarachnoid space to the venous system for the treatm...
Published Date: January 23, 2022
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Frim DM, Vivas-Buitrago T, Rigamonti D, Lacy M. Surgical management of hydrocephalus in the adult. In: Quiñones-Hinojosa A, ed. Schmidek and Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 81.
Rosenberg GA. Brain edema and disorders of cerebrospinal fluid circulation. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 88.
Sivakumar W, Drake JM, Riva-Cambrin J. The role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a critical review. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 45.