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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

[Delirium: etiology and pathophysiology].

Fernando Veiga Fernández¹, Alfonso J Cruz Jentoft

¹Complexo Hospitalario Xeral-Calde, Lugo, España, Gerontología, Universidade de A Coruña, A Coruña, España.

Revista Espanola De Geriatria Y Gerontologia

|May 8, 2009

Summary

Delirium is a functional brain disorder with complex causes, affecting neurotransmitters and brain regions. Understanding its multifactorial nature is crucial for accurate diagnosis, especially in elderly patients.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Pathophysiology

Context:

Delirium is a common yet not fully understood functional brain disorder.
It presents a common clinical syndrome stemming from diverse organic causes.
The elderly population is particularly susceptible to delirium, often due to multifactorial etiology.

Purpose:

To elucidate the complex physiopathology of delirium.
To identify key brain regions and neurotransmitter systems implicated in delirium.
To emphasize the multifactorial nature of delirium etiology and risk factors.

Summary:

Delirium involves specific brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, and basal ganglia, particularly in the nondominant hemisphere.
Key neurotransmitter alterations include reduced cholinergic and increased dopaminergic/GABAergic function, alongside changes in other systems (serotonergic, noradrenergic, glutamatergic, histaminergic).
Inflammation may contribute to certain delirium types, and multifactorial etiology with numerous risk factors is characteristic, especially in the elderly.

Impact:

Highlights the critical need for a multifactorial model in diagnosing the causes of delirium.
Provides a foundation for further research into delirium's neurobiological underpinnings.
Informs clinical practice regarding the assessment and management of delirium, particularly in geriatric populations.