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Updated: Aug 3, 2026
07:40
Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults
Published on: January 26, 2019
[Transient unresponsiveness of the elderly]
1Geriatric Dept., Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.
Harefuah
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Recurrent transient unresponsiveness, unexplained by common causes, may stem from disrupted brain connectivity. A history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) is a common factor in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Transient unresponsiveness presents a diagnostic challenge.
- Differential diagnoses include metabolic disorders, arrhythmias, and seizures, which were ruled out in this case.
Observation:
- An 81-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of transient unresponsiveness.
- Literature review identified 5 similar cases with no clear etiology after extensive investigation.
Findings:
- Suggested causes for these episodes include diffuse ischemia or sleep disorders.
- The proposed mechanism involves a functional discontinuity between the reticular formation and the cerebral cortex.
- A shared characteristic among these patients is a history of recurrent transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
Implications:
- This suggests TIAs may predispose individuals to unexplained transient unresponsiveness.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise pathophysiological link.
- Understanding this connection could lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for such neurological events.
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