From: hounddog23x@gmail.com   
      
   In the ARR we provide caregiver support and answers to the most difficult   
   problems faced by caregivers each day.   
      
   Wednesday, January 16, 2013   
      
   Dementia and Memory Loss Caused by Infection   
      
      
   Undetected infections are common in dementia patients. These infections can   
   lead to permanent memory loss, hard to deal with behavior, dullness (the not   
   there effect), and even death.   
      
   By Bob DeMarco   
   Alzheimer's Reading Room   
      
   Dementia and Memory Loss Caused by Infection   
      
   One of my pet peeves is the urinary tract infection. UTIs are the bane of the   
   Alzheimer's caregiver, and people living with Alzheimer's and dementia.   
      
   UTIs are sneaky when it comes to persons living with dementia. They sneak in   
   and the patient can't even tell you they are sick.   
      
   When a person living with dementia gets an infection all kinds of bad things   
   start happening. Sometimes they start talking in gibberish, or i   
   -comprehensively.   
      
   Sometimes they get dull. It can appear to the caregiver that the end is near.   
   The patient sometimes acts like they are no longer there.   
      
   Sometimes Alzheimer's patients get mean. Real mean when they have an   
   undetected infection.   
      
   Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room   
   Email:   
      
   And yes, sometimes the UTI or infection goes undetected even after a trip to   
   the doctor, and the emergency room.   
      
   This can lead to death. And yes, sadly, I have the emails to prove it.   
      
   Typically, Alzheimer's caregivers are unaware of the frequency of undetected   
   infections in Alzheimer's patients. UTIs and infections are common in   
   Alzheimer's patients - especially women.   
      
   Let me make this as simple as I can.   
      
   If you are an Alzheimer's caregiver the odds are high, very high, that your   
   loved will suffer from multiple UTIs or infections.   
      
   And here is why you should be alert.   
      
   There is clear scientific evidence that common infections, such as a cold,   
   stomach bug or urine infection lead to cognitive decline. In the case of   
   dementia patients this kind of memory loss may never be recovered.   
      
   We have a long list of articles in the Alzheimer's Reading Room that deal with   
   issues like UTIs and the dire effects that infection can have on memory, mood,   
   behavior and thinking.   
      
   I would suggest you search the knowledge base on the right hand side of the   
   page and use terms like these: infection, memory loss, urinary tract   
   infection, and UTI to get up to date on this problem.   
      
   I wrote this article because I just received another email that described the   
   dire consequences of infection in a dementia patient that went undetected even   
   after a trip to the doctor and the emergency room.   
      
   Related Content   
   Urinary Tract Infections Can Hasten Memory Loss in Alzheimer's Patients   
   Urinary Tract Infection, You Can Learn From My Experience   
   Alzheimer's Urinary Tract Infections, Urinary Incontinence (links to ten   
   articles)   
   Dementia Patients in the Emergency Room - Think UTI First   
   Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's   
   caregiver.  Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.   
      
   Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room   
      
      
      
   http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2013/01/dementia-and-memory   
   loss-caused-by.html?m=1   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)