A Future Without Brain Surgery? The Push for Non-Invasive Therapies for Hydrocephalus
What if treating hydrocephalus didn’t require brain surgery?
The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) is working to turn this vision into reality. HA gathered clinicians, scientists, patients, and caregivers for two research workshops focused on the top Community Research Priority: developing non-invasive therapies, such as drug or gene therapies. Experts mapped out the next steps to develop new treatments for different types of hydrocephalus. These next steps are now published as “Research Priorities for Non-Invasive Therapies to Improve Hydrocephalus Outcomes” in the journal Fluids and Barriers of the CNS.
Key Research Priorities
- Understand cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its movement throughout the brain:
Researchers aim to better understand how CSF moves through the brain and how the brain responds to fluid buildup. This knowledge could help develop treatments that manage the condition without the need for surgery.
- Use large patient data sets:
Large multi-institution clinical studies are important to identify commonalities among patients. Collecting, sharing, and analyzing large data sets of patients across different hospitals and studies allow clinical and research scientists to see patterns and get a better look at the effects of hydrocephalus across the population.
- Develop preclinical studies that will translate to patients:
New drugs, gene therapies, and devices must be carefully tested in the lab before they can be used in people. Researchers use cell and animal models of hydrocephalus to study symptoms, treatments, and their effects on quality of life. The goal is to design studies that can move more quickly—and more safely—into clinical trials.
What could this mean for patients and their families?
- Fewer surgeries: More non-invasive therapies could reduce the need for brain surgeries for shunt revisions.
- Improved quality of life: Effective non-surgical treatments could mean fewer medical emergencies and hospital visits, less anxiety over shunt failure, and improved daily functioning.
- Personalized care: With the help of machine learning and large data sets, treatment plans can be smarter and personalized to each patient’s needs.
Learn more about our research priorities for non-invasive therapies.
Next Steps
The priorities highlighted in this paper guide the direction of research; however, there’s still important work ahead. Continued research is needed to turn these ideas into real, non-invasive treatments that reach patients.
Patients and their families play a vital role in this progress. We encourage you to participate in clinical trials and research studies to help facilitate the development of new therapies.
Moving forward, collaboration is key. Researchers, clinicians, patients, and institutions must work together to accelerate the development of safe, effective, and life-changing treatments for hydrocephalus.
One way to support progress toward non-invasive treatments is by joining HAPPIER, the Hydrocephalus Association’s Patient-Powered Interactive Engagement Registry. Through HAPPIER, individuals living with hydrocephalus and their caregivers can share valuable health information and lived experiences to help researchers better understand the condition. This real-world data is critical for advancing research, improving care, and accelerating the development of new treatment options.