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Suggest Treatment For Dementia When Diagnosed With Chronic Cerebral Hydrocephalus
Question: About my domestic partner. He was diagnosed with chronic cerebral hydrocephalus in 2004. I believe there were signs of dementia long before. First question--now, in 2015, can there be any idea of prognosis for his mental abilities and his lifespan? Second questions--why did a short-lived improvement following a spinal tap to drain spinal fluid mean that a shunt would not help?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Unfortunately since 2004 not much has changed in the management and prognosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, there is still no medication and shunting remains the only choice, but it leads to improvement in only a percentage of patients and can have complications. As for lifespan that is difficult to answer as hydrocephalus itself does not lead to death, it's just that his dementia makes him more prone to complications such as respiratory infections, so it depends more on his overall condition.
Regarding your second question, of course more info would be needed to determine why they didn't choose shunting, but regarding lumbar puncture that information is puzzling because actually improvement after spinal fluid removal makes the patient a more likely candidate to benefit from surgery, so improvement would be a point in the favor of shunting. Of course there are other factors which are evaluated such as findings on MRI, having found a cause for the hydrocephalus and the presence of dementia, if cognitive impairment was marked that is a factor which lowers the chances for success.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Unfortunately since 2004 not much has changed in the management and prognosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, there is still no medication and shunting remains the only choice, but it leads to improvement in only a percentage of patients and can have complications. As for lifespan that is difficult to answer as hydrocephalus itself does not lead to death, it's just that his dementia makes him more prone to complications such as respiratory infections, so it depends more on his overall condition.
Regarding your second question, of course more info would be needed to determine why they didn't choose shunting, but regarding lumbar puncture that information is puzzling because actually improvement after spinal fluid removal makes the patient a more likely candidate to benefit from surgery, so improvement would be a point in the favor of shunting. Of course there are other factors which are evaluated such as findings on MRI, having found a cause for the hydrocephalus and the presence of dementia, if cognitive impairment was marked that is a factor which lowers the chances for success.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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