Is it Dementia, a UTI or your liver?

Not all dementia is the same, and it’s important to know that not every case is Alzheimer’s disease. Sometimes, what seems like dementia can be something else that can be treated!

For example, I often remind people to be careful about bladder or kidney infections if they are taking care of someone in a care facility or at home. Sometimes, a person might not show any signs of being sick, and you might not notice if they are drinking less fluid. But suddenly, they might have a big drop in their ability to think or do things on their own. You might wonder if this is sudden dementia. In many cases, just giving them fluids and antibiotics can help them feel better and return to how they were before.

I read an interesting article that said “Up to 13% of dementia cases could be a misdiagnosis of a treatable condition.” That’s a big deal! The study found that when a person has liver failure, it can affect their thinking and memory. This happens to more than 40% of people with liver issues.

This is important because if someone is having trouble thinking, remembering, learning, or making decisions, it can look like dementia. They may not understand their surroundings, have mood swings, or forget people and places they usually know.

If someone has liver failure because of cirrhosis from drinking, you might think they are just drunk. But remember, not everyone with liver problems is a drinker. Other things can hurt the liver too.

The good news is that changing what a person eats and how they behave can really help. Some medicines already exist to help, and better treatments are on the way!

Our livers play a big role in keeping us healthy. When our livers don’t work well, it can cause problems for other parts of our body, like our kidneys, pancreas, heart, and even our brains. That’s why it’s really important to take care of our liver.

This is really important because many people are getting older, and there are lots of memory problems that need care. Many families are not ready for this, and we don't have enough places for all the people who need help now or in the future.

​It’s very important for those who can stay healthy and avoid these worries, so they can feel better!

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​​Article link: https://www.sciencealert.com/up-to-13-of-dementia-cases-could-be-a-misdiagnosed-treatable-condition