Living Healthy, Being Well

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a lesser-known condition with symptoms that look a lot like Alzheimer’s disease. More importantly, normal pressure hydrocephalus  has a solution. Yet, of the estimated 750,000 Americans who have normal pressure hydrocephalus, fewer than 20 percent are appropriately diagnosed and treated.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus is an excessive buildup of fluid in the brain occurring most often in people over age 60. There are three classic symptoms for normal pressure hydrocephalus.  These are:

• Abnormal walk, which is often the first symptom of NPH to appear and almost always the most pronounced. It is typically a wide-based, slow, shuffling step that could lead to frequent falling.
• Mild dementia, which includes short-term memory loss and difficulty dealing with simple routine tasks.
• Urinary incontinence, which is often the last apparent symptom; someone with NPH may experience frequent urgency or a complete loss of bladder control.

It’s important to keep in mind that only one or two of these symptoms may be present in someone who has NPH.

How is NPH diagnosed and treated?

The first step to diagnosing NPH is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a computerized tomography (CT) scan, along with a thorough clinical history (usually from a primary care physician) and neurological assessment (from a neurologist).

If NPH is still suspected after the initial physician consultations, the doctors at Rush University Medical Center recommend an inpatient, three-day test in which a shunt is used to drain excess fluids. During the test, a multidisciplinary team, including a neurosurgeon, physical therapist, speech pathologist and neuropsychologist, determines whether symptoms adequately improved enough to indicate that a permanent shunt would be a viable long-term solution.

Be part of the Rush Generations Program

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, is at the forefront of geriatric care. This is the reason that they offer RUSH Generations, a free health and aging membership program for older adults and people who care for them.

No matter where you live, RUSH Generations can help you live well as you age: We offer a number of free resources that promote healthy and vital living. Our evolving benefits package is designed to help you take charge of your health and your life.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of membership:

• Health risk appraisals and screenings
• Support groups
• Subscription to our health newsletter
• Access to our comprehensive health resources library
• Toll-free phone support for older adults, families and caregivers
• Discounted parking for members over the age of 65 with a valid membership card
• Personalized short-and long-term care planning for individuals and families
• One-on-one assistance with filing insurance claims and appeals
• Access to volunteer and other social activities
• Lifelong learning opportunities through educational workshops