Most cases of senile dementia are Progressive, irreversible and devastating.
However, this condition is linked to another disease that could be reversed and give quality of life for the patient and their families.
Normal tension hydrocephalus is an illness in which fluid from the brain collects in the head, which can be treated. However, the diagnoses are often too late.
According to Eduardo Huertas, Neurological Surgeon specialist in brain and spine, every senior citizen with dementia should be tested for hydrocephalus.
The diagnosis tends to be difficult because their symptoms start slowly and treacherously. An MRI is one of the most reliable tests for a successful diagnosis.
The patient with hydrocephalus has walking anomalies, urinary incontinence and begins to display disorientation, oversleeping, wandering and usually talk at night.
Although it cannot be associated with a known cause, this type of hydrocephalus is related to:
– Bleeding from a blood vessel or brain aneurysm
– Stroke
– Viral or bacterial infections
– Previous brain surgery
If detected early, it can be treated and controlled with surgery to drain the liquid. Thus, enlarged brain cavities can return to their original size and symptoms are reversed.