AVENTURA, Fla. -- According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, many Americans over the age of 55 may suffer from a condition that is often confused with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia or simply old age.

"What we're really dealing with here is something called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus," said Dr. Brett Osborn, a neurologist with Aventura Hospital.

Osborn said N.P.H. can be the result of injury or infection but in many cases the cause is unclear.

"What happens is fluid begins to build up in the brain cavity causing a variety of symptoms," Osborn said.

Symptoms include changes in a person's stride and the ability to walk, memory loss, apathy, dementia, and urinary incontinence, all of which may become progressively worse.

"In other words, the earlier you get to these patients and recognize it the better they're ultimately going to do," Osborn said.

When Irwin Schwartz's health began to decline after a hip operation in 2003, doctors first thought he might have Alzheimer's disease.

"It got worse and worse to the point where he was in a wheelchair because he couldn't walk anymore," his wife, Estelle, said.

Further testing revealed N.P.H. and that Schwartz was a good candidate for a surgical procedure to relieve the pressure.

"We put a shunt in the brain to move the fluid into the body where it's absorbed," Osborn said.

Since having the surgery, Irwin Schwartz is now able to get around without a wheelchair.

"He's not running relays but he's getting around, and that's wonderful," his wife said.

To reach Osborn call 786-428-1059