Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is caused by excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and enlargement of the brain’s ventricular system, putting increased pressure on the surrounding brain tissue, and leading to a distinctive gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and mental decline. NPH can be effectively treated by a surgical procedure to divert the CSF from the ventricles into the peritoneal cavity via a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for this surgical treatment to be effective. However NPH is frequently unrecognized or misdiagnosed as arthritis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or “senility”, leading to other ineffective treatments and nursing home confinement. We have developed a multidisciplinary hydrocephalus evaluation program at the Monmouth Medical Center dedicated to the correct diagnoses and treatment of Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
