Dementia, short term memory loss, & hydrocephalus

Cerebro-spinal liquid (CSL) is produced by the plexus choroideus found in the I (first) and II (second) brain chamber. From here, CSL goes into the III and IV brain chamber. The IV chamber communicates with the subarachnoidal space via 2 anatomic openings. The subarachnoidal space is a space between the arachnoidal and pia covering of the brain and spinal cord. From the subarachnoidal space through the arachnoidal, CSL enters the venous sinuses created by the dural covering of the brain. Venous sinuses collect the entire venous blood stream with CSL from the brain and transport them to the heart.


A" hydrocephalus" indicates increased volume and pressure of CSL followed by enlargement of the brain chambers. An enlarged brain chamber then causes atrophy of brain tissue. Any stop in liquid circulation and drainage from the chambers and subarachnoidal space can cause a corresponding increase in CSL-pressure and volume. A blockage of CSL circulation can be due to congenital anomalies, tumors, consequences from infections and traumas etc. Increased pressure of the cerebro-spinal liquid (CSL) can be also due to increased production of CSL in the brain chambers and subarachnoidal space. There is increased volume of CSL in cases of inflammation (meningitis or encephalitis), subarachnoidal hemorrhage (bleeding in subarachnoidal space), intra-ventricular bleeding (bleeding in brain’s chambers), etc.


Short term memory loss can be due to psychiatric or neurological disorders. Anxiety and dementia are also frequent reasons for short term memory loss. Dementia can be due to many reasons including hydrocephalus. In most cases of increased CSL pressure, however, “short term memory loss” is not a dominant symptom.