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Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) - Symptom

Alternative Names

Hydrocephalus - idiopathic; Hydrocephalus - adult; Hydrocephalus - communicating; Extraventricular obstructive hydrocephalus

Symptoms:

The symptoms often begin slowly.

Early symptoms include:

Changes in gait, including inability to begin walking (gait apraxia)
Sudden fall without loss of consciousness or other symptoms (drop attacks)
Unsteady walking
Weakness of the legs

Symptoms as the disorder gets worse:

Apathy
Dementia
Difficulty paying attention
Impaired memory
Less spontaneous behavior
No mood (flat affect)
Speech impairment
Urinary or bowel incontinence
Withdrawn behavior

Signs and tests:

An examination shows walking (gait) changes related to the damage in the brain. Deep tendon reflexes may be increased in the lower legs.

Tests include:

Central nervous system

Ventricles of the brain

Reviewed last on: 2/13/2008
Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Goetz CG, ed. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007.

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