Which is a feature of Normal pressure hydrocephalus
**Core Concept**
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition characterized by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, leading to ventricular enlargement and potentially causing cognitive, gait, and urinary disturbances. The key feature of NPH is the normalization of CSF pressure despite the presence of ventricular enlargement.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is related to the clinical presentation of NPH, which typically includes a triad of symptoms: gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence. This triad is thought to be due to the compression of surrounding brain tissue by the enlarged ventricles, leading to impaired motor function, cognitive decline, and bladder dysfunction. The gait disturbance in NPH is often described as a "magnetic gait," where the patient has difficulty initiating walking and has a tendency to pull their feet up when walking.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because it does not accurately describe a feature of NPH. While high intracranial pressure is often associated with hydrocephalus, the key feature of NPH is the normal pressure of CSF despite ventricular enlargement.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it is not a specific feature of NPH. While seizures can occur in various neurological conditions, they are not a characteristic symptom of NPH.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because it describes a feature of other conditions, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis, rather than NPH.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The triad of symptoms in NPH (gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence) is often remembered using the mnemonic "HOP": "Gait" disturbance, "O" - often associated with "O"lder adults, and "P" - "P"resence of urinary incontinence.
**Correct Answer: C. Gait disturbance**