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Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Putting it all together
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological condition that affects the elderly. It is characterized by a triad of symptoms including difficulty walking, poor bladder control, and mild dementia. NPH is a difficult-to-diagnose disease, since the symptoms often mimic those of other conditions among the elderly — Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. NPH is a condition that cannot be cured, but it can often be effectively treated.
NPH is characterized by a triad of symptoms including difficulty walking, poor bladder control, and mild dementia. The symptoms of NPH may not all occur at the same time, and sometimes only one or two symptoms are present. Some patients experience a mild form of the symptoms, while others become more impaired as the condition progresses.
| The NPH Puzzle |
Walking
Difficulties |
Mild
Dementia |
Poor Bladder
Control |
| Difficulty walking is usually the first symptom to appear and is usually the most pronounced. The person's walking stride becomes more wide-based and slow, with a shuffling type gait. Balance can be impaired and frequent falls may occur. The person may have difficulty turning corners or lifting their feet. |
The mild dementia associated with NPH is often mistaken as a typical consequence of aging. The symptoms can include forgetfulness, loss of interest in daily activities, and reduced organizational and problem-solving skills. The dementia associated with NPH is usually less severe than dementia associated with other conditions (e.g. Alzheimer's). |
Poor bladder control may range from urinary frequency to incontinence. In the early stages of NPH, the need to urinate frequently, or the urgent need to urinate are most prevalent. Later stages of NPH may be characterized by total loss of bladder control, or incontinence. However, some people with NPH never have bladder control problems. |
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