Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Bringing Insight to an Overlooked Condition

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) remains one of the most frequently underrecognized neurological conditions despite being highly responsive to treatment if diagnosed in a timely fashion.

The condition produces a distinctive “magnetic” gait that’s characterized by difficulty lifting the feet fully from the floor. If diagnosed early, the effects of NPH can improve within hours of cerebrospinal fluid removal, but tap test assessments are typically brief, subjective and may not capture fluctuating responses over time.

Introducing Grasshopper Health for NPH

Grasshopper’s Axis Patch^™ may offer more insight into a patient’s state by capturing NPH-specific gait signatures continuously in a patient’s home environment. This helps eliminate inter-rater variability, capture optimal response timing and complement single-timepoint clinical assessments.

An Overview of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

NPH is a treatable brain disorder affecting adults 65+, where an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid fills the brain’s ventricles, causing enlargement. Often caused by past injury, bleeding, infection, a brain tumor or brain surgery.

It’s estimated that nearly 800,000 older Americans have Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, but it is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

The classic triad of symptoms (often referred to as Hakim’s Triad) includes walking difficulties, dementia or cognitive decline, and urinary incontinence.

The Gait Footprint of NPH

Individuals with NPH often experience:

Slowed walking speed
Reduced step height
Shortened stride length
Magnetic or “stuck to the floor” gait patterns
Difficulty turning
Decreased stability

Earlier awareness of gait disturbance caused by NPH can support more timely evaluation and treatment, potentially improving mobility, independence and quality of life.

How Continuous Analysis Helps

The Axis Patch^™ supports clinicians by providing:

Early visibility into subtle gait changes
Longitudinal data to support clinical decision-making
Objective insight to inform imaging referrals or treatment evaluation

Bringing Insight to an Overlooked Condition

Introducing Grasshopper Health for NPH

An Overview of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

The Gait Footprint of NPH

How Continuous Analysis Helps

Experience the Impact