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Managing America: Health

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Week Ending March 2, 2006

H.CON.RES.74 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for other purposes.
 

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain and has no known cure.

1 or 2 babies out of 1,000 are born with the disease that affects about 1 million Americans. A third of those affected are older Americans who are thought to have Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease.

Difficult to treat due to over draining and other problems suffers still usually live out a full life while spending about $1 billion for treatment.

But the National Institutes of Health and the Hydrocephalus Association is raising awareness and moving towards advanced research. The efforts are praised.

Sponsor:  Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-1^st)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote Feb. 27, 2007.

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this resolution.

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MORE INFORMATION

Whereas hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition, characterized by the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain;

Whereas there is no known cure for hydrocephalus;

Whereas hydrocephalus affects an estimated one million Americans;

Whereas 1 or 2 in every 1000 babies are born with hydrocephalus;

Whereas over 375,000 older Americans have hydrocephalus, which often goes undetected or is misdiagnosed as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease;

Whereas with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people with hydrocephalus are able to live full and productive lives;

Whereas the standard treatment for hydrocephalus was developed in 1952, and carries multiple risks including shunt failure, infection, and overdrainage;

Whereas there are fewer than 10 centers in the United States specializing in the treatment of adults with normal pressure hydrocephalus;

Whereas each year, the people of the United States spend in excess of $1 billion to treat hydrocephalus;

Whereas a September 2005 conference sponsored by 7 institutes of the National Institutes of Health--`Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions'--resulted in efforts to initiate new, collaborative research and treatment efforts; and

Whereas the Hydrocephalus Association is one of the Nation's oldest and largest patient and research advocacy and support networks for individuals suffering from hydrocephalus: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That--

(1) the Congress commends the Director of the National Institutes of Health for working with leading scientists and researchers to organize the first-ever National Institutes of Health conference on hydrocephalus; and

(2) it is the sense of the Congress that--

(A) the Director of the National Institutes of Health should continue the current collaboration with respect to hydrocephalus among the National Eye Institute; the National Human Genome Research Institute; the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; the National Institute on Aging; and the Office of Rare Diseases;

(B) further research into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, disease burden, and improved treatment of hydrocephalus should be conducted or supported; and

(C) public awareness and professional education regarding hydrocephalus should increase through partnerships between the Federal Government and patient advocacy organizations, such as the Hydrocephalus Association.

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