What if I told you some people diagnosed with dementia may not have dementia at all? Surprisingly, it’s estimated that 5 percent of people institutionalized for dementia actually have Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).

NPH looks similar to Parkinson’s or forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s, but it’s actually treatable. It’s caused when normal production of spinal fluid goes awry and builds up in brain ventricles, which cushions and nourishes the brain. This throws off brain pressure and causes neurological and physical symptoms such as imbalanced gait.

Senior Services Expert Lori Williams welcomes Gary Chaffee to share his incredible story with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Currently, a 75-year-old volunteer with the Hydrocephalus Association, he started having signs of NPH when he was only in his early 30s. It wasn’t until 2001 when he moved to Texas that he received a diagnosis and shunt surgery that helped him return to normalcy - and his “gray life” brightened.

Today he feels like an 18-year-old with a renewed sense of purpose and a wealth of education to share with not only seniors, but people at any age who experience similar symptoms. A diagnosis of NPH can be a relief to many individuals and families, as they’re able to take treat it with surgery and restore their abilities and health.

Topics discussed:

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Dementia misdiagnosis

Ventricles

Spinal fluid

Hydrocephalus vs. dementia or Parkinson’s

Shunt surgery / replacement

Brain surgery

Takeaways from this episode:

-Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is a misnomer - it’s an abnormal accumulation of spinal fluid in the brain and can affect you at any age, but primarily over age 60.

-Implanting a shunt during brain surgery is the main form of treatment for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. You can get by with one or two shunts, but statistics are showing after 5 years it’s likely you’ll need a new one.

-NPH is “wet, wacky, and wobbly”: it’s marked by urinary incontinence and frequency, wobbly gait, and cognitive issues and forgetfulness.

-Many people are misdiagnosed, so know the signs and discuss them with your doctor. CT scans can typically identify it.

Resources discussed:

Learn more on the Hydrocephalus Association website:

Hydroassoc.org

https://www.facebook.com/HydroAssoc?ref=mf%2F

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