Normal pressure hydrocephalus

NPH is a neurologic syndrome associated with the Adams triad: abnormal gait, urinary difficulty, and symptoms of dementia. The symptoms of NPH are often similar to those seen in various forms of dementia, including AD, PD, or vascular dementia. Unlike other forms of dementia, NPH is reversible if treated early and appropriately. The timely implantation of a VP shunt to divert CSF from the brain has been shown to reverse the dementia and other symptoms associated with NPH, provided it is performed before damage from the enlarging ventricles has occurred. Because NPH is a reversible disease that is often mistaken for other nonreversible neurologic disorders, it is important that pharmacists and other members of the health care team become familiar with this condition and that they learn to distinguish it from other dementing illnesses.