🏥 USMLE Exam Prep

A 70-year-old man is brought to the clinic by his family due to a 9-month history of progressive memory loss, difficulty with planning and organizing, and a 'magnetic' gait where his feet appear to stick to the floor. Neurological exam reveals broad-based, shuffling gait and mild cognitive impairment. MRI of the brain shows ventriculomegaly out of proportion to sulcal atrophy. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic and therapeutic step?

A Prescribe donepezil for symptomatic relief
B Refer for genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease
C Perform a large-volume lumbar puncture
D Initiate physical therapy and gait training

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

This presentation is classic for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), characterized by the triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence. A large-volume lumbar puncture is both diagnostic (if symptoms improve) and potentially therapeutic, guiding shunt placement.

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