Dehydration is a serious health concern for seniors. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 17% to 25% of elderly people in the United States are dehydrated. Dehydration causes hospital admissions, complicates medical problems, and can even put one's life at risk.
Aside from these dramatic issues, it is important to consider dehydration effects on brain function and performance on a daily basis. Our brains rely on proper hydration to function well. If you are struggling with fatigue, dizziness, or brain fog, it is worth investigating whether drinking more water could be part of the solution.
In this post, we will examine the link between hydration and mental performance and explore practical ways of preventing dehydration in seniors.
It is important to recognize the signs of dehydration and treat them as quickly as possible. WebMD notes that it is easy to recover from mild or moderate dehydration, but it requires immediate medical attention if it becomes severe. It notes that the signs of dehydration may include:
While many older adults need to drink more water regularly, certain conditions can exacerbate the problem. For example, if you have a bout of diarrhea or vomiting, your body can quickly lose water, electrolytes, and minerals.
Other risk factors include:
It is important to investigate the cause of increased urination. It may be a sign of diabetes or another underlying health condition that requires treatment.
Certain medications or combinations of drugs can also have a dehydrating effect on the body. It's important to talk to your healthcare provider about this potential side effect and how to combat it.
Incontinence is also a concern for some seniors. This upsetting condition could cause you to limit your fluid intake. However, this could have serious consequences for your mental sharpness and overall health.
The National Institute on Aging encourages limiting alcohol but not other types of fluids. Instead, it encourages seniors to seek treatments for incontinence. Effective options may include bladder control training, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Our brains are made up of around 75% water, so it's not surprising that a drop in fluid intake can produce brain dehydration symptoms.
A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information reported that even a 2% drop in body water levels can cause cognitive decline. It can affect:
The same study found that when the cause of dehydration is moderate physical exercise, the long-term and working memory may not be affected in the long-term. However, further research is needed into the effects of other forms of dehydration that commonly affect seniors.
When we are dehydrated, our memory can be severely affected. We may struggle with the following:
Other signs of cognitive impairment often accompany these symptoms.
When we are younger, we have a greater amount of cognitive reserve. This refers to our brain's ability to maintain cognitive function even during difficult situations, such as dehydration. As we get older, our brains are more sensitive to dehydration, meaning that seniors are more likely to experience cognitive decline due to dehydration.
Worryingly, brain dehydration symptoms can look a lot like dementia in seniors. However, while our risk of developing dementia increases as we get older, it is not an inevitable part of aging. Dehydration could cause the following symptoms that could be mistaken for the onset of long-term cognitive challenges:
If you have experienced or noticed these issues in an elderly person, it's important to seek medical advice. While it is important to diagnose and treat dementia as soon as possible, you may just need to improve your hydration to reduce these symptoms.
The National Council on Aging provides a handy formula for calculating how much older adults should drink each day. Calculate one-third of your body weight in pounds and drink that number of ounces of water each day.
For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should aim to drink 60 ounces, or 7.5 cups, each day. These guidelines include all types of fluids, including water, food, and other drinks. However, not all drinks provide the same levels of hydration.
Most of us enjoy coffee, tea, or both during the day. However, these drinks are mildly dehydrating. So while you can enjoy them, make sure that you do not include them when calculating your daily fluid intake.
Alcohol can also have the same effect, stimulating the body to remove fluids from the blood flowing around our bodies. Keeping alcoholic drinks to a minimum can help your body hold onto the fluids it needs.
The best drink for seniors looking to improve their hydration is plain water. However, you can jazz it up with slices of fruit or switch it for low-calorie sports drinks or nutritional drinks and shakes designed for seniors.
As we've seen, dehydration effects on brain function and performance are concerning. However, they are not inevitable. With a good plan for daily hydration, seniors can stay well-hydrated and avoid brain dehydration symptoms.
Staying hydrated becomes a lot easier when you join the vibrant assisted living community at Clay Gardens Place Assisted Living in Zanesville, OH. Our trained staff is on hand 24/7 to monitor hydration and provide tasty drinks to make life easier. With alert caregivers on hand to spot the early signs of dehydration, it will be easier to avoid complications.
Come and see what life looks like with a caring support team on hand and engaging activities to get involved with. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our community.