My mother is 96, has dementia, and cannot stand/walk. I care for her at home, with morning help from a CNA. About once or twice a month, my mother has 1- or 2-day "flare-ups" of dementia -- really exaggerated verbal agitation, often accompanied by wadding up or removing her covers/clothes and/or attempting to get out of bed by herself (she would fall). Always, this is accompanied by a dramatic uptick in urine volume (no odor, no fever, no other indication of UTI). I've consulted her doctor; he doesn't think a UTI is causing the hyperactivity, saying if it were an infection, she would feel weak/sick (not hyper); also, and I agree, we can't keep giving her antibiotics because doing that can make matters worse. He thinks the cause-effect here is that she has manic episodes, which crank up her adrenaline, make her heart beat harder, and cause her to urinate more. We have tried a variety of meds to address the agitation; none worked. She has long taken an antidepressant. All I do during these "episodes," basically, is give her cranberry pills (just in case), put thicker pads on the floor next to her bed, watch her as carefully as I can, and try not to freak out myself. I guess I'm just asking about people's experience with dementia flare-ups accompanied by excessive urination (but no other UTI symptoms). Thanks.
A medical professional cannot assume that it is an infection or not. The only way to tell is with a urine culture. If Mom is not mobile, your doctor can give you a “hat” that fits under the seat of the toilet. Collect the urine and pour it into a clean container.
My mom had to be tested each month for a UTI. They are common but can be very serious if left untreated. They can cause complete personality changes.
In my experience, dementia symptoms do not flare up. It’s a downward slide with no reverse gear.