Delirium, a condition in which people become acutely confused and disorientated, may have long-lasting consequences, including accelerated
dementia-related mental decline, a new study has warned.
The study is the first to show the multiplying effects of delirium, that affects a quarter of older patients, and dementia in these people, researchers said. Episodes of delirium in people who are not known to have dementia, might also reveal dementia at its earliest stages, researchers, including those at University College London in the UK, found.
While both delirium and dementia are important factors in cognitive decline among the elderly, delirium is preventable and treatable through dedicated geriatric care.