As people get older, their immune systems slow down, responding less forcefully to infection. This leaves the elderly more vulnerable to illness. Not only is this elevated risk of infection concerning because of the physical effects, but the possible cognitive effects of a severe infection in the elderly can also be distressing. While there have been studies showing a link between urinary infections and cognitive decline in seniors, it tends to be an unmasking of a case of dementia that was already present or developing.
What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?
When bacteria enter the urethra and bladder, it can cause inflammation and infection. The infection can also travel up to your kidneys, but this is less common. When a urinary infection occurs, it can cause:
Pain in your side, abdomen, or pelvic area
Pressure in the lower pelvis
Frequent need to urinate, urgent need to urinate, and incontinence
Painful urination
Blood in the urine
The need to urinate at night
Abnormal urine color, cloudy urine, and strong or foul-smelling urine
If your doctor believes you have a UTI, they will take a urine sample and test it for white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, and bacteria. They will then take a culture of the sample to test what kind of bacteria are present in the urine.
Treatment for a UTI is fairly straightforward. Your doctor will probably prescribe you some kind of antibiotic to take for several days. If the infection persists or if you get UTIs frequently, other interventions may be needed.
What Is The Relationship Between Infection and Cognitive Decline in Seniors?
When an elderly person’s immune system detects an infection, its response may be weak and not capable of fending off illness. Then, when the infection becomes severe, the immune system launches a belated, stronger attack, resulting in systemic inflammation. This inflammation interrupts communication between immune cells and neural cells, which are crucial to cognitive function, and so a lessening of cognitive function may occur. Studies have shown that when cognitive decline results from infection in the elderly (like a UTI), it’s usually an ‘unmasking’ of dementia that was already present but exhibiting no symptoms, or an acceleration of the condition of someone predisposed to dementia.
Unfortunately, those with or predisposed to dementia are more prone to infection, which in turn may lead to accelerated cognitive decline. In fact, acute delirium can be an indicator of infection in someone who has dementia. The relationship between cognitive and immune inflammation is bidirectional–one reinforces the other.
A 2005 study published in Alzheimer's Disease & Associated Disorders noted “a positive association between episodes of infection and increased likelihood of diagnosis of dementia in the very elderly.” And other studies have shown that “hospitalization for common infections, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, is associated with at least 1.4-fold higher risk for dementia in otherwise well-functioning older adults.” The risk was the same whether the infection was severe or mild.
How Can I Minimize My Risk of Urinary Tract Infections?
For post-menopausal women, an estrogen-containing vaginal cream, which changes the pH of the vagina, may be useful. Keeping the pelvic area clean and dry (especially during menstruation and after sex) and drinking plenty of fluids are all good ways to minimize the risk of a UTI. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions.
Norman Urology Associates Can Help
If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI and are unsure what to do, the team at Normal Urology can help you identify the problem and help you feel better soon. Contact our office today to make an appointment with one of our doctors.