Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus history

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus first became recognized on March 10, 1964 as a distinct medical syndrome by Salomón Hakim, M.D., Ph.D.

The classic triad of magnetic apraxia, urinary incontinence, and dementia remain relevant into the 21(st) century as being the basis for symptomatic diagnosis and predicting potential benefit from cerebrospinal fluid shunting, though they have been greatly augmented by the addition of modern neuroimaging, particularly MRI.

Modern criteria recognize a wider range of diagnostic criteria, and new positive and negative prognostic indicators for treatment benefit have been discovered, though the mainstay remains initial drainage of a large volume of cerebrospinal fluid and monitoring for clinical improvement. Even with our advances in understanding both primary and secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus, diagnosis, management, and counseling remain challenging in this disorder ¹⁾.