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Delirium in dementia
B Robertsson1, K Blennow, C G Gottfries
1Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Mölndal Hospital, Sweden. barbro.robertsson@ms.se
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|March 7, 1998
Summary
Delirium occurs more frequently in elderly patients with vascular dementia (VAD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LAD) compared to early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EAD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This suggests widespread brain damage may increase delirium risk.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Delirium is a prevalent mental disorder in the elderly.
- Dementia is a significant risk factor for developing delirium.
- Understanding delirium's occurrence across different dementia types is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of delirium episodes in patients with common dementia diagnoses.
- To assess the influence of age, gender, severity, and duration of dementia on delirium development.
Main Methods:
- A study included 175 consecutive patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia (VAD), or frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
- Patients were admitted to a neuropsychiatric diagnostic unit.
- Delirium occurrence was compared across diagnostic groups, considering demographic and dementia-related factors.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in sex distribution or dementia duration were found between delirious and non-delirious patients.
- Delirium rates were higher in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LAD) and VAD compared to early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EAD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
- Age did not explain the observed differences in delirium occurrence between dementia groups.
Conclusions:
- Delirium appears more common in dementia types associated with widespread brain damage, such as LAD and VAD.
- Dementia types primarily affecting cortical regions, like EAD and FTD, showed comparatively lower delirium rates.
- The specific type of dementia, rather than age, may influence delirium incidence.