Like Alzheimer's disease, NPH is a progressive process that can produce dementia. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, if caught early, symptoms can be arrested and often reversed. Diagnosis is generally made by a review of brain imaging. NPH is characterized by three primary symptoms:

• Gait disturbance (difficulty walking)
• Dementia (memory & thinking problems)
• Urinary incontinence (problems with bladder control)

Because these symptoms are often associated with other disease processes (such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's), NPH can be misdiagnosed or missed.

The Symptoms of NPH progress over time. The rate of progression is variable. As a general rule, the earlier the diagnosis, the better chance for successful treatment. The treatment itself if very risky and include invasive brain surgery. But for some, there is symptom relief.