NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS

Wet, wacky, wobbly

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is a rare cause of hydrocephalus, or buildup of CSF, in elderly individuals. When a lumbar puncture is performed, it would be reasonable to expect their huge pools of CSF to explode out, but these patients paradoxically have a normal LP pressure. Hence the name. There are 3 W symptoms: Wet (incontinence), Wacky (dementia) and Wobbly (falls).

Diagnosis?

On a CT or MRI, the ventricles will be large but there won’t be any gyral atrophy or flattening. It's kind of like the ventricular walls are eroding away on the inside. 

Treatment?

Ventricular shunting, to lower the ICP. Early treatment can reverse the symptoms. This is one of the few reversible causes of dementia.