Normal pressure hydrocephalus: an update

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 80; no. S 05; pp. 42 - 52
• Main Authors: Passos-Neto, Carlos Eduardo Borges, Lopes, Cesar Castello Branco, Teixeira, Mauricio Silva, Studart, Adalberto, Spera, Raphael Ribeiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda 01.05.2022; Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Aged; Cognitive ability; Dementia; Gait; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure - diagnostic imaging; Movement disorders; NEUROLOGY OF COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS; NEUROSCIENCES; Older people; Predictive Value of Tests; PSYCHIATRY; Spinal Puncture; Ventricle; Hidrocefalia de Pressão Normal; Demência; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure; Spinal Puncture; Punção Espinal; Dementia
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227
• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X-ANP-2022-S118

ABSTRACT Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) has been a topic of debate since its introduction in publications. More frequent in the elderly population, it is characterized by gait disturbance, urinary urge incontinence and cognitive decline. Therefore, it is a clinical-radiological entity with relatively common findings for the age group, which together may have greater specificity. Therefore, its diagnosis must be careful for an adequate selection of patients for treatment with ventricular shunt, since the symptoms are potentially reversible. The tap test has a high positive predictive value as a predictor of therapeutic response, but a negative test does not exclude the possibility of treatment. Scientific efforts in recent years have been directed towards a better understanding of NPH and this narrative review aims to compile recent data from the literature in a didactic way for clinical practice.