Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections in older adults, but in people living with dementia, they can trigger a sudden and dramatic change in behavior and cognition. A UTI that might cause mild discomfort in a younger, healthier person can instead set off delirium — an acute, fluctuating state of confusion — in someone with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.Dr. Shouri Lahiri is director of the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit and Neurocritical Care Research at Cedars-Sinai and leads the Lahiri Lab. His research focuses on the inflammatory mechanisms that link acute illnesses and infections to delirium and cognitive decline, including the role of immune signaling in brain changes during infection.In this conversation with Being Patient founder Deborah Kan, Lahiri explained why up to one-third of older adults with a UTI can develop delirium, and why that risk is even higher for people with dementia, who have less cognitive reserve to draw on. He discussed why early antibiotic treatment is critical and what caregivers can do — from monitoring hydration and sleep-wake cycles to recognizing subtle signs of urinary discomfort — to help prevent and manage delirium at home. He also shared where his lab's research into anti-inflammatory treatments currently stands.----If you loved this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

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