Who is most affected by hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus can affect anyone at any age but is most common in infants and older adults. Some of these cases can be associated with abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord during pregnancy. The two major types of hydrocephalus are called communicating hydrocephalus and non-communicating hydrocephalus.

What causes adults to get hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus that develops in children and adults (acquired hydrocephalus) is usually the result of an injury or illness. Possible causes of acquired hydrocephalus include: bleeding inside the brain – for example, if blood leaks over the surface of the brain (subarachnoid haemorrhage)

How long can adults live with normal pressure hydrocephalus?

Conclusions: Clinical improvement of patients with NPH can be sustained for 5-7 years in some patients with NPH, even if shunt revision surgery is needed multiple times.

Can a person with hydrocephalus drive?

Hydrocephalus typically affects visual acuity, coordination, judgment, and concentration, all of the skills which are necessary to drive. Just learning how to coordinate between controlling the steering wheel and applying the accelerator or brake can be a daunting task when you have poor motor skills.

What are the symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults?

Among adults 60 years of age and older, the more common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus are:

• Loss of bladder control or a frequent urge to urinate.
• Memory loss.
• Progressive loss of other thinking or reasoning skills.
• Difficulty walking, often described as a shuffling gait or the feeling of the feet being stuck.

Is hydrocephalus considered a rare disease?

Hydrocephalus occurs in two out of every 1,000 births in the United States. It is not known how many people develop it after birth. Approximately 125,000 persons are living with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts, and 33,000 shunts are placed annually in the United States.

Can shunt cause weight gain?

Conclusion. We treated a rare case of shunt dysfunction caused by calcification of the aponeurosis and weight gain over the course of 1 year.

Can you fly with a shunt in your brain?

Flying. Flying in a regular commercial jet is fine for most people with shunts. If you were told years ago not to fly, it’s worth asking your neurosurgeon again as things have changed.

How long can you live with brain shunt?

The shunt event-free survival is approximately 70\% at 12 months and is nearly half that at 10 years, post-operatively. Shunts that are placed to channel CSF to other parts of the body may fail due to malfunction or infection. Infections occur in less than 10\% of all surgeries.