Method of diagnosing physiological disorders of the central nervous system

A method of diagnosing normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in a patient having an initial intraparenchymal venous pressure (Pv) below normal and an initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure (PCSF) with a gradient such that Pcsf>Pv, the method comprising:

• imaging the subarachnoid veins, arteries, or both of the patient or vessels of an eye of the patient to detect any presence of collagen deposition, the imaging comprising performing a fundoscopic exam using polarized light;
• treating the patient to increase the intraparenchymal venous from the initial pressure below normal to a second pressure greater than the initial pressure, while maintaining er decreasing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) the CSF pressure at the initial CSF pressure or decreasing the CSF pressure to a second CSF pressure less than the initial CSF pressure in the patient such that PCSF=Pv or Pv>Pcsf, wherein treating the patient increasing the intraparenchymal venous pressure of the patient comprises monitoring Pcsf and Pv of the patient and at least one of
• introducing the patient to a hyperbaric environment for a time and under conditions suitable for increasing the intraparenchymal venous pressure to the second pressure,
• administering to the patient intrathecally or intracerebroventricularly an effective amount of a pharmacologic agent encapsulated in a liposome to increase flexibility of the veins, arteries, or both, the pharmacologic agent comprising an anti-fibrotic agent or an agent capable of inhibiting collagen accumulation or degrading collagen on the veins, arteries, or a combination thereof, selected from aprotinin, cis-hydroxyproline (cHYP), hepatocyte growth factor, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid;
• or
• operating a pressure actuator comprising a bladder implanted in a cranial cavity of the patient in fluid communication with a reservoir storing a fluid and/or gas, and a pump and/or valve operably connected to control flow of the fluid and/or gas between the bladder and the reservoir, to control pressure in an amount effective to increase pulse amplitude in the cranial cavity;
• assessing whether the patient has exhibited any improvement of symptoms associated with NPH;
• and
• responsive to the detection of collagen deposition in the imaging and assessment of improvement of symptoms, diagnosing the patient as having NPH.

A method of diagnosing normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in a patient having an initial intraparenchymal venous pressure (Pv) below normal and an initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure (PCSF) with a gradient such that Pcsf>Pv, the method comprising:

• imaging the subarachnoid veins, arteries, or both of the patient or vessels of an eye of the patient to detect any presence of collagen deposition, the imaging comprising performing a fundoscopic exam using polarized light;
• monitoring PCSF and Pv of the patient;
• treating the patient to increase the intraparenchymal venous from the initial to a second pressure greater than the initial pressure, while maintaining the CSF pressure at the initial CSF pressure or decreasing the CSF pressure to a second CSF pressure less than the initial CSF pressure in the patient such that PCSF=Pv or Pv>PCSF,
• wherein increasing the intraparenchymal venous pressure of the patient to the second pressure comprises administering to the patient intrathecally or intracerebroventricularly an effective amount of a pharmacologic agent encapsulated in a liposome to increase flexibility of the veins, arteries, or both, the pharmacologic agent comprising an anti-fibrotic agent or an agent capable of inhibiting collagen accumulation or degrading collagen on the veins, arteries, or a combination thereof, selected from aprotinin, cis-hydroxyproline (cHYP), hepatocyte growth factor, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid;
• assessing whether the patient has exhibited any improvement of symptoms associated with NPH;
• and
• responsive to the detection of collagen deposition in the imaging and assessment of improvement of symptoms, diagnosing the patient as having NPH.