My father has NPH. He was diagnosed years ago when he started falling for no reason. Actually, dropping to the floor is a more accurate description. He would be standing, and with no warning, be on the floor. He started walking with a cane, then a walker, and now is wheelchair bound. When he was about 88, the neurologist said that putting a shunt in his brain to drain the fluid was the only solution, one the family, my father, and the doctor agreed, was not such a good idea for someone his age. Severe dementia is supposed to accompany NPH. The doctor was astonished that at 91, my father was as sharp or sharper than many 1/2 his age. However, my stepmother's death, the trauma of moving 1200 miles down here to Florida, and the general progression of the disease, has finally resulted in intermittent dementia. But he's 93, so we think he's done fairly well, all things considered.
In younger patients, the shunt works well and I have heard that the dementia symptoms disappear.
MyMom, 83, is being tested to get a Dx. Previous tests have indicated NPH, as do some symptoms, but further testing hasn't definitely supported that. 2 1/2 years ago we were noticing little losses. 1 year ago we started pushing for a Dx --probably at Stage3-4. (We've seen this in Parents-in-law, and my DH so were alert to it). Saw herSunday atherALF--she is nearly where my DH is--Stage 6 flirting with 7. I've seen nothing anywhere on someone declining so fast. Only thing I'm pretty sure of is that she doesn't have EOAD.
My dh had a shunt put in back in 2008 for NPH. he was wetting the bed,walking the old man suffle and having other mental issues.I do not think now that it was totally the NPH,I think he was already in Alz. but Dr. would not Dx it.I think now looking back I would not have let them do it if I had knowen more about the traits of Alz.