Abstract
To investigate the possible role of symptomatic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in unexplained walking difficulties of the elderly, we used CT to measure lateral ventricular size. We compared data in 50 patients over the age of 60 with a disturbance of gait and 80 control subjects of similar age who walked well and were mentally sound. Forty-six of the 50 gait patients (92%) had a ventricular span of more than 12 mm, whereas only 5 of the 80 controls (6.3%) had ventricles of that size. There was a narrow zone of overlap. Seventeen of the 50 gait patients later improved after surgical shunting or test withdrawal of lumbar CSF. These findings demonstrate that hydrocephalus is an important cause of disturbances of walking in the elderly. The validity of the study, the clinical picture in NPH, and the nature of NPH are discussed.
- © 1982 by the American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Disputes & Debates: Rapid online correspondence
NOTE: All authors' disclosures must be entered and current in our database before comments can be posted. Enter and update disclosures at http://submit.neurology.org. Exception: replies to comments concerning an article you originally authored do not require updated disclosures.
- Stay timely. Submit only on articles published within the last 8 weeks.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- 200 words maximum.
- 5 references maximum. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- 5 authors maximum. Exception: replies can include all original authors of the article.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.