Delirium in elderly people - 2014 Lancet review

Delirium is an acute disorder of attention and cognition in elderly people (ie, those aged 65 years or older). It is common, serious, costly, under-recognised, and often fatal. A formal cognitive assessment and history of acute onset of symptoms are necessary for diagnosis. In view of the complex multifactorial causes of delirium, multicomponent non-pharmacological risk factor approaches are the most effective strategy for prevention. No convincing evidence shows that pharmacological prevention or treatment is effective. Drug reduction for sedation and analgesia and non-pharmacological approaches are recommended. Delirium offers opportunities to elucidate brain pathophysiology — it serves both as a marker of brain vulnerability with decreased reserve and as a potential mechanism for permanent cognitive damage. References:Delirium in elderly people - The Lancet http://bit.ly/1hfK73hImage source: Hippocampus, from Wikipedia, public domain. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook.
Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Category: Journals (General) Tags: Geriatrics Lancet Neurology Source Type: news