Delirium and Dementia

Delirium, dementia, and other cognitive disorders represent an increasingly important focus of clinical research and practice. In this review, the authors survey recent developments in our understanding of these disorders. Delirium is now more frequently recognized as an important contributor to morbidity and as a factor in prognosis for patients in a number of treatment settings, particularly in the geriatric population. Early detection and aggressive treatment of delirium contribute to shorter hospital stays and lower treatment costs. Delirium is often confused with other disorders of cognitive function, such as dementia. The four most common dementia syndromes, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, are explored in this review. A greater understanding of the genetic risks and the neuropathological findings of these syndromes has led to novel therapeutic strategies involving interventions at critical points along the cascade to neuronal cell death. These approaches have opened new avenues of inquiry for future developments.