III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 63 

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 19, 2007 

Mr. REID (for Mrs. CLINTON) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need 

for additional research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for other purposes. 

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 1,000,000 Americans; 

Whereas 1 or 2 in every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus; 


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•SCON 63 IS 

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 $1,000,000,000 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 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That— 

3 (1) Congress commends the Director of the Na4 tional Institutes of Health for working with leading 

5 scientists and researchers to organize the first-ever 


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•SCON 63 IS 

1 National Institutes of Health conference on hydro2 cephalus; and 

3 (2) it is the sense of Congress that— 

4 (A) the Director of the National Institutes 

5 of Health should continue the current collabora6 tion with respect to hydrocephalus among the 

7 National Eye Institute, the National Human 

8 Genome Research Institute, the National Insti9 tute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, 

10 the National Institute of Child Health and 

11 Human Development, the National Institute of 

12 Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Na13 tional Institute on Aging, and the Office of 

14 Rare Diseases; 

15 (B) further research into the epidemiology, 

16 pathophysiology, disease burden, and improved 

17 treatment of hydrocephalus should be conducted 

18 or supported; and 

19 (C) public awareness and professional edu20 cation regarding hydrocephalus should increase 

21 through partnerships between the Federal Gov22 ernment and patient advocacy organizations. 

Æ 


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