There are over 1 million Americans living with hydrocephalus, a complex condition marked by excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain. However, anyone at any time can develop hydrocephalus from a brain injury, tumor, or infection, and some people over 60 develop Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which is often, misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s. The primary treatment for hydrocephalus is the insertion of a device called a shunt – a small tube and a connected valve – into the brain to drain the excess fluid to another part of the body. Shunts save lives, but frequently malfunction, become infected, or blocked, requiring repeated brain surgeries. Help us raise awareness by highlighting stories of people living with hydrocephalus and the challenges they face. 

If you are a member of the news media, we encourage you to use the information found on our website for your stories, and to share our website address, www.hydroassoc.org, and Helpline phone number, 888-598-3789, as resources in your news stories. Below are some additional helpful resources. If you would like more information about hydrocephalus or the Hydrocephalus Association, and/or would like to speak to someone, please contact our Media Relations Department at (240) 483-4875 or send an email to communications@hydroassoc.org.

Media Resources

About the Hydrocephalus Association

Founded in 1983 by the parents of children with hydrocephalus, the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) is the nation’s largest and most widely respected organization dedicated to hydrocephalus. Since 2009, HA has invested over $12 million in cutting-edge research, making us the largest non-profit, non-governmental funder of hydrocephalus research in the United States.