Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a form of dementia that, on first glance, appears to be very similar to Alzheimer’s disease. And although these two conditions do share many similar symptoms, especially when it comes to dementia, they couldn’t be more different. the biggest difference is that NPH is not only treatable, but if detected in the first two years of its existence, it is almost always completely curable.
According to the National Institute of Health, NPH can occur in people of any age, but like Alzheimer’s, it is most common in seniors. It occurs when there is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, causing pressure on the brain itself. The end result manifests itself in the symptoms. People with NPH tend to display the cognitive problems that are hallmark to Alzheimer’s, accompanied with difficulty walking and bladder control. These physical symptoms are also common with Alzheimer’s, which is one of the reasons why this is often confused with AD. This can be a costly mistake, though.
When you have a loved one with dementia, in-home care can be a great first line of defense in keeping them safe and happy. When there is a caregiver present, the odds of an injury or an emergency go down tremendously. However, if NPH is the cause of the dementia, this might not be necessary, simply because the dementia can effectively be stopped and reversed. If NPH goes untreated, though, the outcome is the same as Alzheimer’s. They are both fatal illnesses. This is why it’s so important to know the difference and to have your elderly loved one’s physician check to see if NPH could be the cause of their dementia. There are some major differences between these two conditions, and one has a much more cheerful prognosis for your loved one and your family. This alone should be incentive to pursue this line of reasoning.
NPH is treatable. A shunt can be placed in the brain, and the cerebrospinal fluid buildup is drained down to the abdomen, where the body processes it as normal. Many people that have this process done recover completely and can go back to a normal quality of life, although they will need to have more frequent checkups by a physician for the rest of their life. The earlier that this condition is spotted and then treated, the better the chances of a full recovery become. If you have a loved one that is displaying the beginning signs of dementia, or is having sudden issues with their mobility, it is definitely worth getting them into a doctor’s office as soon as possible. Even Alzheimer’s can now be slowed down a little if it is caught early enough. Things like exercise, brain stimulation through puzzles and conversation, and medical treatments all have shown that they can help improve brain functioning in those with cognitive disorders, including early Alzheimer’s.
To learn more about normal pressure hydrocephalus, you can visit the National Institute of Health’s page devoted to it here.
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