82: Diagnosis of treatable dementia

Normal pressure hydrocephalus; treatable dementia, missed diagnosis. Diagnostic guidelines to improve clinical decision making ($315,000) – Associate Professor George Razay

Associate Professor George Razay and his research team at the Launceston General Hospital are investigating the prevalence and early diagnosis of a potentially treatable form of dementia – normal pressure hydrocephalus.

There are currently around 230,000 people with dementia in Australia (6,000 in Tasmania) and this is projected to increase to over 730,000 by the year 2050. Dementia is a debilitating condition mainly affecting older people, resulting in cognitive and physical decline.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is one of the few treatable forms of dementia, but it is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include balance and walking problems, dementia and urinary incontinence. Treatment involves a simple operation to insert a shunt to drain excess fluid from the brain. There are no clear diagnostic criteria and the condition is often missed, with patients being misdiagnosed with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

This three year research project will develop better methods for diagnosing the condition through the assessment of 400 older Tasmanians with memory problems. The study will also contribute to our understanding of the prevalence of the condition. All participants will be offered a full memory assessment at the LGH. The study has the potential to improve quality of life for many patients who would otherwise be condemned to progressive dementia and disability.