Compounding this difficulty is the fact that some of the symptoms of NPH are similar to the effects of the aging process, as well as diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Unfortunately, the cause of the majority of NPH cases is unknown, making it difficult to diagnose and understand. NPH can occur as the result of head injury, cranial surgery, hemorrhage, meningitis or tumor. However, the name can be misleading, as some patients' CSF pressure does fluctuate from high to normal to low when monitored. NPH owes its name to the fact that the ventricles inside the brain become enlarged with little or no increase in pressure. The ventricles enlarge to handle the increased volume of CSF, thus compressing the brain from within and eventually damaging or destroying the brain tissue. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus results from the gradual blockage of the CSF-draining pathways in the brain. Experts believe that normal-pressure hydrocephalus accounts for five to six percent of all dementia cases. It affects adult males and females, as well as people of different races, about equally. Hydrocephalus can occur at any age, but is most common in infants and adults age 60 and older. With appropriate early treatment, however, many people with hydrocephalus lead normal lives with few limitations. It can be controlled, but usually not cured. In an adult, the skull is rigid and cannot expand, so the pressure in the brain may increase profoundly. When an injury or illness alters the circulation of CSF, one or more of the ventricles becomes enlarged as CSF accumulates. The average adult produces about one pint of CSF daily. It flows between the cranium and spine to regulate changes in pressure within the brain.It acts as a vehicle for delivering nutrients to the brain and removing waste and.It acts as a "shock absorber" for the brain and spinal cord.Although hydrocephalus often is described as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually CSF - a clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up within the ventricles (fluid-containing cavities) of the brain and may increase pressure within the head. The term hydrocephalus is derived from two words: "hydro," meaning water, and "cephalus," referring to the head.
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