What is the physiological connection between UTIs and dementia in geriatrics?

Question

Could some one please explain in biological/physiological terms what exactly is happening that would create a change in behavior from a UTI in an elderly person?

Answer 1

When a patient has dementia they use certain 'coping' mechanisms which can hide or disguise how bad they are.

When they are ill, for any reason, their body devotes more of it's resources to fighting the illness, and so they are less able to cope, and it seems like thier dementia accelerates.

Sometimes they will rebound once well again, but often to a slighly worse position to where they were before the onset of the illness.

UTI are a common source of infection in dementia patients, particularly female dementia patients as they often delay urination as they "forget" they need to go, don't fully empty their bladder when they do go, are incontinent and sit in a puddle of urine (or worse), or neglect personal hygeine.

Often a daily glass of cranberry juice will assist on prevention of UTI's - something to do with the acidity of the urine produced after drinking it.

Answer 2

I work in one and I would love to know. Even elderly with normal brain functions go really crazy. Biggest sign of a UTI in the elderly.