Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case Report of the Oldest Man in Literature

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare but life-threatening reaction to antipsychotic medications.
• Older adults are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug reactions, including NMS.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive data on NMS in the very elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the oldest documented case of NMS in medical literature.
• To highlight the increased susceptibility of older adults to NMS.
• To discuss potential exacerbating factors for NMS in elderly patients.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 96-year-old male patient diagnosed with NMS.
• Review of medical literature for documented cases of NMS in elderly individuals.
• Analysis of patient's medication history and comorbidities.

Main Results:

• The patient, aged 96, presented with symptoms consistent with NMS.
• This represents the oldest documented case of NMS to date.
• Older adults demonstrated increased susceptibility to NMS, even at low antipsychotic doses.

Conclusions:

• NMS can occur in very elderly individuals, even with minimal antipsychotic exposure.
• Preexisting neurological conditions and concurrent use of cholinesterase inhibitors may increase NMS risk in older adults.
• Further research is needed to understand NMS pathophysiology and management in the geriatric population.