Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been linked to dementia and delirium. The more aware people are about symptoms, the more they may be able to prevent these infections, according to a story out Thursday in The Washington Post.
“I’m not sure patients, the general public knows how UTIs can do this,” Shouri Lahiri, MD, an associate professor of neurology, biomedical sciences and neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told The Post. “If they’re having confusion episodes, it’s an opportunity to seek out medical advice, to evaluate for an underlying UTI. And in doing so, not only will you preserve short-term cognition, but perhaps even long-term cognitive function.”
When left untreated, UTIs (as well as other infections) can lead to short-term confusion known as delirium. In fact, about 30 percent of older people with UTIs develop delirium. About half of delirium cases arise as a result of having an infection. Delirium isn’t safe, and when that lingers, it can speed up chronic brain dysfunction, Lahiri said.
“I think of it as being a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, because by mitigating it, you can reduce progression of these diseases,” Lahiri added.
How can people prevent infections, especially UTIs? Stay hydrated and urinate regularly. If urinating becomes difficult, too frequent or painful, or if you experience fever, fatigue or chills, see a doctor.
“What’s really needed now is to really understand the mechanisms behind this association between infections and dementia,” Rutendo Muzambi, PhD, a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told The Post.
According to a report out last year, the odds of being able to go home after a hospital stay are slimmer for people who experienced delirium compared to those without it. In the report, nearly half of the people with delirium weren’t able to go home after hospital discharge.
