normal pressure hydrocephalus, nph…

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central nervous system, ventricles, the brain, hydrocephalus, idiopathic, hydrocephalus, adult, hydrocephalus, communicating, "water on the brain", normal pressure hydrocephalus, nph, brain disorder that occurs, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is blocked, fluid fills up, the brain, in turn compresses brain tissue, lose any, all brain functions, controlled by the area, the brain that is compressed, normal pressure hydrocephalus, nph, a reversible, treatable disorder, thought to account, 5% of all dementias, symptoms often begin gradually, nph, form of hydrocephalus, "water on the brain", there is too much fluid compressing the brain, identifiable cause, flow of cerebrospinal fluid, csf, blocked, csf is produced in normal amounts in this condition, prevented, re-absorbed, ventricles, fluid-filled chambers, the brain enlarge to accommodate the increased volume of csf, pressure of csf, measured by lumbar puncture, spinal tap, remains normal, brain tissue is damaged, destroyed, compression by the fluid-filled ventricles, identifiable cause, reverse, at least stop getting worse, no identifiable cause, progressive, risk factors include disorders, obstruction, the flow of csf, closed head injury, surgery on the brain, craniotomy, meningitis, similar infections, subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding, a blood vessel, aneurysm, in the brain, early symptoms, changes in gait, inability to begin walking, gait apraxia, unsteady walking, weakness, the legs, sudden fall, loss of consciousness, drop attacks, symptoms of progression, the disorder, dementia, loss of any, all brain functions, movement, sensation, perception, thought processes, originally mild, progress to severe dementia, no observable mood, flat affect, apathy, withdrawn behavior, impaired memory, difficulty maintaining attention, decreased spontaneity, urinary, bowel incontinence, loss of control over function, speech impairment, an examination shows gait changes related, the brain, deep tendon reflexes increased, in the lower legs, a lumbar puncture, spinal tap, normal pressure of csf, in the spine, a head ct scan, mri of head, changes that indicate nph, a rhisa scan, a nuclear scan using radioactivity, the circulation, the brain, reflux of csf, ventricles, goal of treatment, improve symptoms, surgical creation of a shunt that routes the csf around the obstruction, circulation, treatment of choice, symptomatic treatment, vary depending on the symptoms presented, extent that symptoms, relieved by treatment, prognosis is poor, medical intervention, symptoms progress, disorder results in death, surgical treatment improves symptoms in, 50% of cases, the best prognosis, probable outcome, minimal symptoms, persons, have varying degrees of disability, prior to death, injury from falls, temporary, permanent loss of brain functions, dementia, shortened life span, side effects of medications, complications of surgery, infection, bleeding, symptoms indicate normal pressure hydrocephalus present, call health care provider condition of a person, nph deteriorates, point where, unable to care, the person yourself, a sudden change in mental status occurs, indicate development of another disorder, treating disorders associated, nph, prevent its development it, not be preventable in other cases, early treatment, prevent severe symptoms.