Refining the diagnostic evaluation of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus with Alzheimer's and α-synuclein biomarkers

TL;DR

This paper explores how Alzheimer's and α-synuclein biomarkers can improve the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Contribution

The study introduces the use of Alzheimer's CSF biomarkers and α-synuclein skin biopsy in the diagnostic evaluation of iNPH.

Findings

Approximately 32% of iNPH patients showed AD-consistent CSF profiles.

31% of patients had biopsy-confirmed α-synuclein pathology.

Comorbid neurodegenerative diseases may affect shunt responsiveness in iNPH.

Abstract

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), characterized by ventriculomegaly and Hakim's triad of gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and urinary dysfunction, is common in older adults. iNPH also remains one of the few potentially reversible neurological conditions, typically treated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting. Although many patients improve, shunt responsiveness varies widely (≈60%−90%), and a subset of patients show only transient benefit. A major contributor to this variability is the high prevalence of comorbid neurodegenerative disease with symptom overlap, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The impact of these concomitant conditions on shunt outcomes, however, remains uncertain. We describe the incorporation of AD CSF biomarkers and α-synuclein skin biopsy into the iNPH evaluation to identify coexisting pathology. When integrated into routine workflow, approximately 32% of patients demonstrated AD-consistent CSF profiles and 31% had biopsy-confirmed α-synuclein pathology. We propose adopting concomitant neurological testing, especially in patients with atypical features to help inform patient selection and guide expectations. As the awareness and potential prevalence of iNPH rises and shunt procedures carry meaningful complication risks, delineating how comorbid disease modifies outcomes will be essential to improving the long-term success of shunting in iNPH.

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