Causes of Urinary Incontinence in the Elderly

Urinary incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common problem in the elderly, which can be very troublesome and interfere with their independence and hygiene. The basic types of urinary incontinence are stress incontinence, urge incontinence, functional incontinence and overflow incontinence. Each type has unique causes.

Stress Incontinence

• Stress incontinence, which is more common in women, is the leakage of urine when intra-abdominal pressure is increased due to actions like sneezing or coughing. The cause in women is the aging process and multiple child births; in men, the cause is internal sphincter damage.

Urge Incontinence

• Urge incontinence, or detrusor overactivity, is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in the elderly. The urge to urinate occurs before the bladder is full and is usually caused by nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke or Parkinson's disease.

Functional Incontinence

• Functional incontinence is caused by immobility. The person with functional incontinence knows he needs to urinate but is unable to make it to the bathroom in time.

Overflow Incontinence

• Overflow incontinence, caused by bladder contractile dysfunction or an obstruction, leads to a perpetually full bladder. Because the bladder is always full, it will often leak urine.

Management

• Urinary incontinence is managed with behavior training, medication, surgery or exercise. The doctor will choose the best treatment for the elderly patient's urinary incontinence based on the type of incontinence, the patient's cognitive ability and his physical condition.