Rhode Island Hospital opens center to help detect an often misdiagnosed disorder

Rhode Island Hospital has opened a new center to help diagnose an often misdiagnosed disorder in older patients.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

When this happens, it causes neurological symptoms that may be diagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Diseases.

"This is an underrecognized problem," said Dr. Umer Akar, director of the Rhode Island Hospital Movement Disorders Program.

"They decline quite rapidly," added Dr. Petra Klinge, a surgeon, and director of the CSF Disorders of the Brain and Spine Center at Rhode Island Hospital. 

Together, they are part of a new multidisciplinary center at Rhode Island Hospital -- a partnership with Brown University -- dedicated to diagnosing NPH. It is part of the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute.

"They have these movement and walking problems, they have cognitive slowing, mental impairment," said Klinge, as well as impaired bladder control.

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"The symptoms that are part of this disorder are often recognized as either being part of normal aging or associated with other diseases as well," said Akbar.

Most commonly, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

"It's not well understood why there is increased fluid in the brain," said Akbar.

Nor is there one single test for NPH.

"The diagnosis is made based on clinical examination as well as neuro imaging so something like an MRI scan," said Akbar.

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Caption: NBC 10 Health Check Reporter Barbara Morse looks at a rare disorder often misdiagnosed as a movement disorder or dementia in older patients.

Once diagnosed, treatments are often effective.

"The treatment for NPH is to implant a drain in to the drain," said Akbar.

"It's a long established and old treatment that's been offered for hydrocephalus and we see very favorable results," said Klinge. "All aspects of the problem do improve and the mental problems, the walking disability, less falls, and often also the incontinence--the urinary problem."

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That's why it's so important to get the right diagnosis!

Akbar and Klinge also pointed to the importance of research to help find out why certain people develop this disorder so maybe it can be prevented.

This new clinic currently sees about 10 patients a month and that number could go higher.