SR49

A Senate Resolution designating September 2008 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in New Jersey.

Whereas, Hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition, characterized by the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain; the condition may cause head enlargement, blurred vision or blindness, seizures, impaired physical development, learning disabilities, progressive irreversible damage to the nerve cells in the brain, and even death; and

Whereas, This serious neurological condition may occur at any age, and affects an estimated one million Americans; two out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with hydrocephalus, and the condition is the leading cause of brain surgery in children; and

Whereas, More than 375,000 older Americans suffer from hydrocephalus; the condition often goes undetected for years in older adults, causing such problems as difficulty walking and urinary incontinence, and may be misdiagnosed as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease; and

Whereas, The standard treatment for hydrocephalus, insertion of a shunt to drain excess cerebral fluid, is a 50 year old technology that carries multiple risks, including shunt failure, infection, and over drainage; each year cerebral spinal fluid shunting procedures account for approximately $1 billion in health care spending in the United States alone, with half that amount spent on shunt revisions; and

Whereas, More than 40,000 operations for hydrocephalus occur annually in the United States yet there are fewer than 10 centers in the nation specializing in the treatment of adults with hydrocephalus; and

Whereas, Although there is no single known cause of hydrocephalus or ways to prevent and cure the condition, with the appropriate diagnosis and proper treatment, individuals with hydrocephalus are able to lead full and productive lives; proper prenatal nutrition during the first weeks of conception can also help reduce the risk of children developing hydrocephalus; and

Whereas, A September 2005 conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, and entitled, "Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions," resulted in efforts to initiate new collaborative research and treatment efforts; further research into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, disease burden and improved treatment of hydrocephalus should be conducted and supported, including the collection and analysis of statistics and data concerning the serious nature of hydrocephalus and its impact on American families; and

Whereas, The Hydrocephalus Association is one of the nation's oldest and largest patient and research advocacy support networks for individuals suffering from hydrocephalus, providing support, education, and advocacy for people whose lives have been touched by hydrocephalus and the health care professionals who work with them; and

Whereas, Increased public awareness, professional education, and scientific research regarding hydrocephalus should be promoted through partnerships between the federal government, health care professionals, and patient advocacy groups, such as the Hydrocephalus Association; and

Whereas, These public-private partnerships would ensure that individuals suffering with hydrocephalus and their families are empowered with educational materials, informed about the latest research, have access to quality health care, and are able to advocate for increased research and funding in order to advance the public's understanding of the condition, improve the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and, one day, find a cure; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House hereby designates the month of September 2008 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about hydrocephalus and encourage the development of partnerships between the federal government, health care professionals, and patient advocacy groups, such as the Hydrocephalus Association, in order to advance the public's understanding of the condition, improve the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and, one day, find a cure.

2. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs.

3. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of the Senate shall be transmitted to the Hydrocephalus Association.

STATEMENT

This resolution designates September 2008 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about hydrocephalus, encourage the development of partnerships between the federal government, health care professionals, and patient advocacy groups, such as the Hydrocephalus Association, in order to advance the public's understanding of the condition, improve the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and, one day, find a cure.