Mental Well Being

Mental & Behavioral Symptoms Caused by UTIs in the Elderly

 

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a relatively common occurrence and can affect anyone of any age. The American Urological Association reports that about 10 in every 25 women and 3 in 25 men will experience a urinary tract infection at some time in their life. To make things worse, the risk of experiencing a UTI increases as we age and can cause mental or behavioral symptoms in the elderly. I can shed some light on the psychological symptoms that can be caused by UTIs in the elderly and HPFY can help those minimize the risk of UTIs and their symptoms.

UTIs and the Elderly

Urinary tract infections can impact the lives of anyone. Young or old, male or female, no one is immune from the possibility of bacteria finding a new home in their urethra. UTIs are the second most common infection in the United States and if left untreated can lead to chronic incontinence, as well as spreading to the upper urinary tract causing serious kidney damage. Typical physical symptoms of a UTI can be:

• Burning sensation during urination
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Cloudy urine
• Urine with a foul smell
• Fever
• Lower abdominal pain
• Incontinence
• Blood in urine

Not only does a urinary tract infection present itself with painful and physical symptoms it can manifest itself with mental and behavioral symptoms. When you pair that with the increased risk of experiencing a UTI as we age, negative issues can arise. Approximately 10% of women over the age of 65 will experience a UTI but that increases to 30% for women over 85. Even though UTIs are more common in women, men can also experience this increased risk over the age of 65.

How Do UTIs Affect Behavior?

The exact reason why UTIs can affect us mentally and behaviorally is not known but one study identified a specific protein in the immune system that may affect the brain when activated by infection. Typically, UTIs are painful and irritating but they are little more than a nuisance that can be solved with antibiotics. Unfortunately for the elderly, they can cause mental and behavioral issues. Any natural response to illness can cause changes in mood (such as irritability) and cognition. Our response to an illness such as a UTI can range dependent on our age. For instance, children experiencing a UTI might become irritable, wet the bed, or have trouble sleeping while adults might experience mood swings or anxiety/depression. Unfortunately, as we age our immune systems become less effective at fighting off infections. This can cause elderly folks to experience UTIs more frequently and the behavioral effects associated. UTIs in seniors can cause symptoms similar to those of dementia or Alzheimer’s and can include:

• Confusion
• Agitation/restlessness
• Hallucinations
• Lethargy
• Violent behavior
• Delusions

Since women are more apt to suffer from a urinary tract infection, they also can experience these psychological symptoms more frequently. These negative emotions can interfere with daily activities, negatively affect relationships, and impact sleep. Also, frustration can be experienced with treatments when repetitive UTIs are experienced.

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When to Seek Medical Attention

Obviously, if the physical symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) present themselves you should always see your primary care physician. If there is a sudden change in mood or mental capacity that is accompanying a UTI you should discuss this with your physician, just to ensure it is related to a UTI and not an underlying cognitive issue. Especially if the one affected is 65 years old or more. Timely testing and treatment with antibiotics can be critical to avoiding a worst-case scenario of infection spreading to the bloodstream and causing sepsis, which can be fatal!!

References:

1. UTI Behavior Changes: How Urinary Tract Infections Affect Mental State
2. The emotional impact of urinary tract infections in women: a qualitative analysis
3. UTIs Cause Unusual Behavioral Symptoms in Elders
4. https://www.agingcare.com/Articles/urinary-tract-infection-symptoms-151547.htm
5. Unlocking the Cause of UTI-Induced Delirium

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