A new target for dementia-related delirium
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are highly susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can trigger delirium and accelerate cognitive decline. A new review in Alzheimer’s & Dementia synthesizes the epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, and clinical management of this dangerous cycle. It highlights emerging biological mechanisms, including interleukin-6–mediated pathways, and discusses evidence-based strategies for prevention and care.
Why it might matter to you:
This work underscores a critical, clinically actionable link between a common systemic infection and acute neurological deterioration in neurodegeneration. For biomarker development, it suggests that systemic inflammatory signals like IL-6, triggered by events such as UTIs, could serve as dynamic, blood-based indicators of imminent clinical worsening. Understanding these triggers is essential for building predictive models that integrate fluid biomarkers with clinical data to forecast and potentially prevent rapid functional decline.
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