Delirium News and Research

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Delirium is a mental state in which a person is confused, disoriented, and not able to think or remember clearly. The person may also be agitated and have hallucinations, and extreme excitement.

Tau biology expands beyond microtubules to neurodegeneration, metabolism and mental illness

An Thought Leaders Invited Review published today in Genomic Psychiatry by Dr. Peng Lei and colleagues presents a sweeping synthesis of tau protein research that fundamentally reframes our understanding of this molecule's dual identity.

16 Dec 2025

Shared genetic roots between delirium and Alzheimer’s disease

This study reveals genetic and proteomic risk factors for delirium, offering insights into its etiology and potential biomarkers for prediction and prevention.

26 Nov 2025

Postoperative geriatric syndromes signal high vulnerability and poor outcomes in older adults

Older adults who develop a new geriatric syndrome - such as dehydration, delirium, or malnutrition - after major surgery face a dramatically higher risk of poor outcomes, including more complications, fewer days spent at home, and a significantly increased likelihood of dying within a year, according to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

20 Nov 2025

Simple family-based tool enhances early detection of postoperative delirium

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia shows that family members and caregivers can play a critical role in detecting delirium after surgery using a simple tool known as the Family Confusion Assessment Method.

7 Nov 2025

Familiar voices help reduce the risk of delirium in ICU patients

The innovative use of recorded messages from a family member to provide reorientation information to a critically ill patient receiving mechanical ventilation helped reduce the risk of developing delirium, according to new research published in American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC).

3 Nov 2025

Disrupted brainstem-parahippocampal connectivity identified as a biomarker for delirium

Delirium, commonly observed in critically ill patients following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), is an acute neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by disturbances in attention, consciousness, and cognition.

31 Oct 2025

Study links poor sleep to adverse health outcomes in seniors

Sleep problems affect more than one in five residents in long-term care facilities, with pain, daytime napping and certain medications emerging as key contributors.

28 Oct 2025

First-generation antihistamines increase delirium risk in older hospitalized patients

An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reveals that older inpatients admitted to physicians who prescribe higher amounts of first-generation antihistamines face an elevated risk of delirium while in the hospital.

22 Oct 2025

Common hospice medications may carry major unintended risks for people with dementia

Hospice care aims to bring comfort, peace, and dignity to patients at the end of life. Yet for the growing number of Americans with dementia who enter hospice, their course is often long and unpredictable - making it especially important to ensure treatments align with each person's goals and stage of illness.

14 Oct 2025

Daytime sleepiness in older adults linked to cognitive decline after surgery

People 60 and older who are excessively sleepy during the day may have more problems with memory and thinking after surgery, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting.

13 Oct 2025

Trial examines slow-tempo music as a strategy to reduce delirium in critically ill older adults

A multi-center randomized controlled trial with critically ill adults aged 50 years and older admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) found that twice-daily slow-tempo music (60 to 80 beats per minute) did not shorten the duration of delirium or coma, or reduce delirium severity, pain or anxiety compared with a silence-track control.

13 Oct 2025

Older non-English speakers face higher delirium risk after surgery

Older patients who primarily speak a language other than English may face a greater risk of developing delirium after surgery in U.S. hospitals, according to new research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting. The

12 Oct 2025

Blood and brain biomarkers transform how doctors confirm Alzheimer’s disease

A new Lancet review proposes a three-wave diagnostic pathway that combines clinical expertise with blood, CSF, and PET biomarkers. This approach aims to deliver earlier, more accurate, and more equitable Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis worldwide.

24 Sep 2025

Overweight status may offer survival benefits after major surgery in older adults

Older adults who are overweight may face a lower risk of death in the first 30 days following major elective surgery compared with those who have a normal body mass index (BMI), new research suggests.

26 Aug 2025

New update to the 2023 AGS Beers Criteria highlights safer pharmacologic options for older adults

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has released a landmark update to its list of alternatives to medications listed in the 2023 AGS Beers Criteria - the most widely adopted guidelines to help clinicians identify potentially inappropriate medications for older adults.

18 Aug 2025

Off-label ketamine use for chronic pain lacks scientific basis

The off-label use of ketamine to treat chronic pain is not supported by scientific evidence, a new Cochrane review has found.

18 Aug 2025

Lavender oil could speed recovery after brain surgery

Lavender essential oil aromatherapy improves sleep quality and reduces postoperative delirium in brain surgery patients, offering a natural aid for recovery.

12 Aug 2025

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome increases risks and costs after major surgery

Patients who develop alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) after major surgery face significantly higher risks of complications, longer hospital stays, and increased health care costs, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

28 Jul 2025

Study finds benefits of personalized ventilation in ICU care

A seven-year international, multi-centre clinical trial led by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) and St. Michael's Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto, has found that a new ventilation mode called proportional assist ventilation (PAV+™) could improve outcomes for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who require help breathing.

24 Jul 2025

Survey highlights widespread emotional impact of cancer on patients and their families

A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for patients that can cause short- and long-term mental health concerns as they shift to living within a new timeline driven by weeks or months between medical follow-up appointments.

15 Jul 2025