(HealthDay News) -- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is caused when the flow of cerebrospinal fluid has been blocked, triggering fluid buildup and pressure on areas of the brain.
When the brain is compressed in this way, a person may show signs of lack of brain function in the affected area, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.
Symptoms of NPH may include difficulty or change in gait, leg weakness, unexplained falling, and incontinence. Mental and emotional changes may include apathy, dementia, memory problems and impaired speech.
NPH can be diagnosed with brain imaging scans. A blockage can usually be treated with a shunt, an implanted device that reroutes the fluid and prevents buildup on the brain. Without treatment, NPH often is fatal.
