[geriatricmanager]

The frontal lobes of the brain are significantly impacted in Alzheimer’s disease as well as other dementia’s. The frontal lobes serve as our filter between thought and action. When this part of the brain is damaged, then reactions to thoughts as well as environmental cues and frustrations are affected. Repetition and obsessing about certain activities is very common, and going to the bathroom is one of them. Some caregivers report accompanying their loved to the bathroom and keeping them company and gently reassuring them that they just went is helpful, and also offering different activities besides going to the bathroom might help. Sometimes interventions won’t help, as long as this is not dangerous and she is not hurting herself. Please understand this is part of her dementia, and hopefully it will diminish with time.