Hydrocephalus
Cerebrospinal fluid building up in the ventricles of the brain. One form in older people is mistaken for Alzheimer's disease, although its symptoms may improve with treatment.
What is hydrocephalus?
The brain makes a fluid every day called cerebrospinal fluid. It protects the brain and is then absorbed into the blood. If this cycle is disturbed, fluid builds up in the cavities of the brain, called ventricles, and presses on the brain. Without treatment, hydrocephalus can be fatal.
Types of hydrocephalus
- Congenital: a baby is born with it.
- Acquired: it develops after birth, for example after a serious head injury or because of a brain tumour.
- Normal pressure: seen mostly in people over 60.
Signs in adults
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
The form mistaken for ageing
In normal pressure hydrocephalus, three problems appear together and slowly:
- Walking becomes difficult and unsteady
- Memory and thinking decline
- Control of urine is lost
Because these signs resemble more common illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, it is hard to diagnose. It matters because, unlike Alzheimer’s, this form can improve with treatment. If your father or mother has changed in this way, do not put it down to age. Check it with a doctor.
Tests
CT and MRI show the size of the ventricles. In the normal pressure form, walking, mental ability and bladder control are also assessed, and a lumbar puncture is sometimes needed.
Treatment
- Shunt: a thin tube placed by surgery that carries the extra fluid from the brain to another part of the body. This is the most common treatment.
- Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: in some patients, an endoscope is used to open a way for the fluid to escape.
The result depends on the cause, the severity of symptoms and the timing of diagnosis. Some patients improve greatly, and some do not.
Complications and follow-up
A shunt can block or become infected and need another operation. Hydrocephalus is a lasting condition, and long-term follow-up with a doctor is needed. If someone with a shunt develops headache, vomiting, fever, drowsiness or a return of earlier symptoms, contact their doctor soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does a shunt stay in the body for good?
Usually yes. A shunt works continuously, but it can block or become infected and need another operation. That is why long-term follow-up is needed.
My father has become forgetful and walks differently. Is it Alzheimer's?
There can be several causes, and normal pressure hydrocephalus is one of them. Because this form can improve with treatment, it is worth checking with a doctor.
Bring your images. We read them together.
Go to the booking page or talk to support. Bring the CD or film of your MRI and CT with you.