New finding causes scientists to reconsider what actually causes cerebrospinal fluid buildup in the brain

Hydrocephalus, commonly referred to as "water on the brain," is a dangerous and potentially deadly condition that can harm the brain. For more than a century, physicians have believed that the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain and the organ's inability to absorb CSF is the main cause of hydrocephalus. Now new research led by Stony Brook Medicine neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, MD, suggests this process is not the cause, and if proved true, the finding could revolutionize treatments for hydrocephalus.