Study Confirms Brain Shunts Improve Mobility and Quality of Life in Older Adults with iNPH

A recent multi-center patient trial showed that surgically implanting a brain shunt in older people with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), which essentially means pressure increasing in the brain because of the excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) build-up. 

This condition in older adults can have many causes. It often leads to problems with walking and balance, memory loss or confusion, and even bladder control issues. 

The trial was conducted by Dr. Michael A. Williams, professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who is the lead author, and Associate Professor Nickolas A. Dasher, PhD, ABPP, a neuropsychologist, who co-authored the paper. 

In the trial, a brain shunt was implanted in all participants to relieve the pressure caused by the buildup of spinal fluid. The participants were divided into two groups: one group had the shunt active, while the other had it turned off.

“The patients with the shunt operational, showed an increase in velocity of gait, higher urinary competency, and improvement in mental cognition,” said Dr. Nickolas Dasher. “The patients with the shunt turned off did not show any improvement,” he adds. 

The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the surgery, showing improvements in mobility and independence in patients with an active shunt. 

“The numbers are moving in the right direction. This surgery has brought significant improvement in the livelihood of patients as well as their caregivers. After the surgery, the patients were able to be more independent, like walking with fewer falls or going to the bathroom without assistance,” says Dr. Dasher. 

What excites Dr. Dasher the most about this trial is the promising results in the broader category of neurological diseases that affect older adults. 

“Earlier, we didn’t have an effective treatment for dementia. As of yet, there is only one FDA-approved treatment for Alzheimer's disease. These recent findings bring hope and promise towards finding a proper treatment and quality of life for both the patient and their caregiver,” adds Dr. Dasher.

The other authors are Dr. Mark G. Luciano of Johns Hopkins University, principal investigator on the project, and Dr. Mark G. Hamilton of the University of Calgary in Alberta.