What to know about warning signs, common causes of sudden disorientation
Disorientation can stem from dehydration, infection, medication reactions and other treatable causes
(Aging Untold) — Not knowing who or where you are — even briefly — is more common in seniors, but disorientation can affect anyone. Dehydration, medication reactions and infection are among the contributing factors.
The Aging Untold hosts are shedding light on what you should be looking for if a loved one is experiencing confusion or disorientation.
Sudden change is a red flag
“If they were fine yesterday and they’re confused or disoriented today, that’s not normal,” Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said. “That’s not normal aging, that’s not dementia. Those things tend to be more gradual. So, when it’s sudden like that, that’s a red flag.”
Rogers said the most common cause of sudden confusion is delirium — a sudden change in the brain that leads to disorientation and confusion.
When that happens, loved ones and caregivers should look for red flags, Rogers said.
She said she looks at:
- pain
- infection or injury
- nutrition
- dehydration, constipation or incontinence
- hypoxia, meaning lack of oxygen
- medications
- environment
UTI can trigger hallucinations
Aging expert Amy O’Rourke described a case in which a woman in her 90s was admitted to a psychiatric unit after hallucinating. The cause was later identified as a urinary tract infection, or UTI. The woman was eventually placed on a low-grade antibiotic to manage chronic UTIs.
“It can be really serious adverse circumstances,” O’Rourke said.
“Any sudden change like that is a medical emergency until proven otherwise,” gerontologist Sam Cradduck said. “So, you can’t discount the fact that you could have a stroke or a TIA.”
A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is often called a ministroke.
Dismissing symptoms as ‘old age’ is a concern
The Aging Untold hosts cautioned that sudden confusion is often dismissed by family members and caregivers as a normal sign of aging.
“Old age doesn’t change like that,” Cradduck said. “It’s not a quick slope. So many people want to discount everything based on someone’s age instead of really digging in and finding out what is the why, what’s causing this and what can we do to solve it.”
Cradduck recommended getting a complete blood count and other tests to check for infection, electrolyte imbalances and other potential causes. She also noted that stroke or a TIA should not be ruled out.
“Sudden confusion — that’s the brain’s alarm system,” Rogers said.
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