Confused thinking, disordered speech and other symptoms of delirium in an older adult could cause loved ones to suspect dementia. But these symptoms could actually stem from a fairly common disorder: a urinary tract infection, or UTI.
Both older men and older women are prone to developing urinary tract infections. Their immune systems aren’t as able to fight off infection as they used to be. They also may have more difficulty controlling urination. If they are in a long-term care facility, they may be using a catheter, increasing UTI risk. Women who have gone through menopause may also be more susceptible to UTIs.
A major cause of delirium, which sets in over just a few hours, is the interruption of a key neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages between brain nerve cells. This neurotransmitter is sensitive to fluctuations in blood sugar levels and low levels of oxygen. If blood sugar or oxygen levels fall too low, that neurotransmitter can become interrupted.
A person experiencing delirium may be unable to focus, show poor memory, have difficulty speaking or experience hallucination or disorientation.
This may be older adults’ first symptom, because they often don’t show signs of infection in the same way young adults do. Younger adults can experience pain when urinating, an increased need to urinate and fever. But as we age, our immune systems change, and our bodies respond differently to infection.
To avoid UTIs, older adults should drink water, use the bathroom regularly and take showers daily. And if your loved ones, whether healthy or already cognitively impaired, show sudden signs of confusion, let their physicians know. The delirium could be cleared up by treating a simple infection.