Introduction
Elderly people are at risk of dehydration and should be vigilant about their daily fluid intake. The risk is real, but the culprit is not always clear. In many cases there’s no known specific cause for this problem, which can lead to a lot of confusion among doctors and loved ones alike. A recent study from the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland has found that brain malfunctions may contribute to dehydration in elderly individuals with cognitive issues. Moreover, older adults who suffer from brain malfunctions face a high risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease as time goes on due to progressive loss of water within their body- in turn causing further physical stress and extreme fatigue.
The human body is a complex machine. Without all of its parts working in unison, issues such as dehydration may occur. This blog will discuss the relationship between the brain and dehydration for elderly patients in nursing homes. Understanding how the two systems work together can help staff take measures to alleviate these health risks among their patients, many of whom are at a greater risk for this problem.
The brain has a lot to do with our bodies’ hydration levels in various ways, but it also relies on hydration from food and drinking water to function properly. Signs of dehydration include dizziness and difficulty concentrating, which are both symptoms of a dehydrated brain. Affected patients may also have a loss of appetite and fatigue, which is consistent with the decreased ability for neural connections.
A study conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden recently revealed a link between dehydration and excessive brain activity in elderly individuals who experience cognitive deficits. The study was performed on elderly individuals between the ages of 80-89 that reportedly suffered from dementia. Subjects who were identified as dehydration-related demonstrated signs of increased neurological activity and had elevated levels of resting cortisol, an anti-stress hormone that is often associated with dehydration in the body, according to another study presented at the same medical conference.
A low amount of water inside the human body is responsible for many of these signs. As its name suggests, dehydration refers to a loss of water from the body, and can be caused by a lack of food or excessive sweating. It is often associated with aging, heart disease, cancer and other chronic health problems. Some elderly people may have such serious medical issues that they are unable to drink enough water to avoid dehydration altogether. In the case of older adults who suffer from cognitive changes such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, fluid intake may be more critical than normal due to the health risks associated with dehydrated brains.
In addition to being linked to cognitive changes and brain damage in the elderly, dehydration is also associated with increased risk of falls, especially among the elderly. For example, dehydration has been used as a factor in up to 2/3 of post-fracture health problems such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections and death. Certain patients may have poorer quality of life when it comes to their cognitive abilities due to dehydration; as a result, they will be more likely to develop brain-based conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease due to decreased cognitive function. Thus one factor may cause the other.
Water intake is important for adults at any age because it helps prevent dehydration and its side-effects. However, the elderly often experience a natural decrease in fluid intake due to many factors such as changes in eating habits and access to food. In addition, bodily functions that use water like muscle movement, digestion, kidney function and other processes also change. Elderly patients may also have a greater risk for dehydration because of their increased need for water due to decreased cognitive abilities. For example, elderly individuals with dementia may have a harder time drinking liquids even though their thirst is unchanged.
There are doctors that claim that dehydration of the brain can be caused by other ailments such as stroke or diabetes. However these conditions are rare among the elderly population at large. As a result, this study presented at the Karolinska Institute found that brain dehydration in elderly individuals was linked to the specific changes in their brain chemistry linked to cognitive dysfunction and dehydration.
According to the same study performed by the Karolinska Institute, there are several ways that elderly patients can prevent dehydration and neural activity related to cognitive dysfunction. These include: drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet that includes food rich in fiber, iron, sodium and protein with reduced fat, reducing or avoiding salt intake or medications that induce vomiting and taking supplements such as B3 (Niacin). Conversely, there are some ways to combat dehydration in the elderly that are not necessarily life-changing. These include: drinking alcohol, losing or gaining weight, taking oral medications that induce vomiting and taking thiamine as a preventative.
As medical technology advances, there will probably be a wealth of information available on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However there is currently no cure for these diseases and options for treatment may be limited. While managing the illness should still be a priority, educating patients and their loved ones about the affective changes in their brain chemistry can help prevent these problems from worsening over time. With medication to treat symptoms of dementia while at the same time preventing dehydration from occurring is definitely something to look into.
Conclusion
As this review of dehydration and the brain has shown, dehydration can occur due to many factors such as a lack of water intake, diarrhea, sweating and being at risk for conditions like dementia that affect fluid levels in the body. One of the most important steps to maintaining optimal cognitive health is staying hydrated to avoid dehydration and mild symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue. Controlling these conditions through regular assessments is crucial if you want to maintain your mental health. With a little patience learning how sweat affects body chemistry and how caffeine may affect your brain’s ability to function optimally will help you become more aware of health problems that you may experience in the future.