Dementia describes a number of symptoms associated with brain degeneration that progressively worsen over time. Some of the features that are deteriorating are related to memory and cognition. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms may become apparent when going to the toilet.
According to the Pathways Health platform, urinary tract infections are common in elderly patients.
The Alzheimer’s Association confirms this, saying: “It is common for people with dementia to get a urinary tract infection, especially in the later stages of dementia.
Four-smelling urine is often an indication that a urinary tract infection is developing.
Drinking can smell like ammonia, according to a Cleveland clinic, which also suggests there are bacteria floating in the kidneys to the urethra of the bladder.
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One potential explanation for the prevalence of UTI in patients with dementia is the deterioration of immune function.
“It is believed that as our immune systems change with age, they respond differently to such infections,” explains Pathways Health.
“So, instead of symptoms of pain, older people with UTI may start to act more unstable and disturbing than usual.
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The Alzheimer’s Association reiterates this statement, breaking down some potential changes in behavior.
The majority of patients with UTI tend to complain of physical discomfort, such as burning during urination.
However, elderly patients may instead behave chaotically, offering evidence of their cognitive health.
Moreover, these symptoms may precede other telltale signs of dementia, which may help with early diagnosis.
“It is also important to know that any infection can accelerate the progression of dementia, so all infections must be identified and treated quickly,” explains the Alzheimer’s Society.
In fact, when bacteria enter the bloodstream, they cause low-grade inflammation inside the body.
To avoid such risks, the health platform recommends drinking between six and eight glasses of fluid a day.
Urine should never stay in the bladder for too long, so patients with dementia should be encouraged to go to the toilet whenever possible.
Although UTIs are more likely to occur in advanced stages of dementia, changes in urine odor can occur years before symptoms appear. However, they may not be noticeable to the human nose.
In a study conducted by the Monell Center, the US Department of Agriculture, along with other collaborating institutions, in 2016, researchers found that changes in urine are associated with changes in the brain.
In particular, the study provided evidence that urinary signatures could be altered by changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings gave hope that doctors may be able to diagnose the disorder before the onset of brain damage.
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