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Dementia Symptoms With a UTI Seems Odd? — It's Not Unusual at All
Urinary tract infections may have strange side effects.
Recently I noticed my cousin did not remember a conversation we had yesterday.
Another time he was relating a discussion he had with his daughter an hour before and couldn't recall many details. I asked him to explain further, and he said he didn't know and that it was confusing and to ask her.
I paid attention for the next couple of days. We are close and see one another daily, so it was convenient for me to check in to see how Bob was doing, although he didn't know I was concerned.
His cognitive difficulties continued, and I wondered if this might be the start of dementia.
I discussed this with a friend, a nurse practitioner at the local Mayo Clinic. She suggested we check for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). I was incredulous. What could a UTI possibly have to do with cognitive issues?
Absolutely everything, I found out.
And, yes, Bob does indeed have a UTI. It is easy to do an at-home test to determine this. The tests are available at your local drugstore or on Amazon.
He is in his 70s and has no other symptoms besides his confusion.
