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Has Dementia. On IV To Maintain Fluids. Could Be An Electrolyte Imbalance Or Deficiency? Suggest?
Question: Hello,
My name is XXXXX.
My 82 yr old mother has dementia and is in a hospital now. She is on an IV drip to maintain her fluids. She seems to be more coherent when she is on the drip. I was wondering if some of her issue could be an electrolyte imbalance or deficiency. Mio has a "fit" version that contains electrolytes. Would there be any harm in giving her electrolytes on a regular basis? Could an electrolyte imbalance be preventing her from being more coherent given that she does have dementia?
Thank You!
My name is XXXXX.
My 82 yr old mother has dementia and is in a hospital now. She is on an IV drip to maintain her fluids. She seems to be more coherent when she is on the drip. I was wondering if some of her issue could be an electrolyte imbalance or deficiency. Mio has a "fit" version that contains electrolytes. Would there be any harm in giving her electrolytes on a regular basis? Could an electrolyte imbalance be preventing her from being more coherent given that she does have dementia?
Thank You!
Brief Answer:
she may have delirium
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic
Dementia is the loss of the ability to think, remember, understand and respond appropriately and carry out day to day activities.
Alzheimer's is just one of the causes of dementia.
Dehydration and electrolyte disturbance can cause delirium. Delirium is a disturbance in consciousness level with change in a the ability to think, pay attention, remember. It develops over a short period of time (whereas dementia is seen to develop over a long term basis) and the symptoms may vary over the course of the day.
Persons with dementia are at an increased risk of developing delirium.
It is possible that your mother developed delirium which would have aggravated her confusion. The fluid and electrolyte replacement would have helped correct this.
Unfortunately fluid and electrolyte imbalance is not a cause of dementia which is a long term progressive decline in function.
Though the use of enough fluids and electrolytes will help prevent delirium but would have no effect on the underlying dementia.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any additional questions
she may have delirium
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic
Dementia is the loss of the ability to think, remember, understand and respond appropriately and carry out day to day activities.
Alzheimer's is just one of the causes of dementia.
Dehydration and electrolyte disturbance can cause delirium. Delirium is a disturbance in consciousness level with change in a the ability to think, pay attention, remember. It develops over a short period of time (whereas dementia is seen to develop over a long term basis) and the symptoms may vary over the course of the day.
Persons with dementia are at an increased risk of developing delirium.
It is possible that your mother developed delirium which would have aggravated her confusion. The fluid and electrolyte replacement would have helped correct this.
Unfortunately fluid and electrolyte imbalance is not a cause of dementia which is a long term progressive decline in function.
Though the use of enough fluids and electrolytes will help prevent delirium but would have no effect on the underlying dementia.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any additional questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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