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.

Routine blood test can predict survival of cancer patients in palliative care

A routine blood test can predict how long cancer patients in palliative care will survive, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.

17 Dec 2016

Patients using public health insurance more likely to experience high pain levels in PACU, study finds

Patients using public health insurance were more likely to experience high pain levels in the post anesthesia care unit following surgery to remove their tonsils and/or adenoids, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2016 annual meeting.

24 Oct 2016

Mild sedative could reduce risk of post-operative delirium

A mild sedative could greatly reduce the risk of people experiencing delirium after an operation, according to new research.

14 Oct 2016

Pregnant women with bipolar disorder at higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis

Pregnant women with bipolar disorder and their families and physicians should be aware of a significantly higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis, according to a new Northwestern Medicine review of literature on the rare and under-researched disorder.

9 Sep 2016

Delirium in advanced cancer patients: an interview with Dr Knox Todd

Delirium is a terribly distressing syndrome of acute confusion. We often see it in the emergency department in older patients and in those with multiple medical problems. They may be acting strangely at home and concerned loved ones bring them to the emergency department.

7 Sep 2016

RACP releases new Choosing Wisely Australia recommendations on appropriate use of medicines for older adults

The latest lists developed by specialties from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as part of the Choosing Wisely Australia initiative deliver a strong message on appropriate use of medicines for older Australians.

12 Aug 2016

Postoperative delirium negatively impacts functional recovery in older patients, study finds

Researchers from the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research, in collaboration with scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brown University, and Northeastern University, have discovered that postoperative delirium negatively impacts recovery in older adults.

10 Aug 2016

Delirium underdiagnosed in advanced cancer patients visiting emergency department

A new study indicates that delirium is relatively frequent and underdiagnosed by physicians in patients with advanced cancer visiting the emergency department.

25 Jul 2016

Delirium in older surgical patients may be linked to long-term cognitive decline

Researchers from the Harvard Medical School - affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research have found increasing evidence that delirium in older surgical patients may be associated with long-term cognitive decline.

14 Jul 2016

Study assesses prevalence of delirium among survivors of cardiac arrest treated with hypothermia

A study in the American Journal of Critical Care found a remarkably high prevalence of delirium in a small cohort of critically ill patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

1 Jul 2016

Higher late life cognitive reserve may help lower incidence, severity of delirium

New research suggests that higher late life cognitive reserve—an ability to offset the losses associated with age- and disease-related changes in the brain—may help prevent delirium.

23 Jun 2016

Certain leisure activities may lower risk of post-operative delirium in older adults

Delirium, or the medical term for experiencing sudden confusion, is upsetting for both older adults and their families. In fact, it is one of the most common complications older adults face after surgery (a time often referred to as the "post-operative" period).

21 Jun 2016

Researchers examine effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs to prevent or treat delirium

In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers examined whether or not antipsychotic drugs, which are sometimes used to prevent or treat delirium, are effective.

20 Apr 2016

National plan outlines milestones, strategies for Alzheimer's patient care and caregiver support

The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) was signed into law in 2011. Over the past five years milestones have been identified to meet the plan's biomedical research goal. However, similar milestones have not been created for the goals on patient care and caregiver support.

13 Apr 2016

Immediate treatment can benefit cannabis users who experience withdrawal symptoms

Heavy users of cannabis who experience withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness and cravings when they quit are likely to use again sooner than their peers, a new study finds.

24 Mar 2016

Antipsychotic medications may not be effective in preventing delirium in hospitalized patients

A recent review of the medical literature does not support the use of antipsychotic medications for preventing or treating delirium in hospitalized patients.

23 Mar 2016

Warning of increased mortality risk for PD patients taking antipsychotics

Researchers have found a more than twofold increase in the risk of death among patients with Parkinson's disease who take antipsychotics, particularly typical antipsychotics.

23 Mar 2016

Consultation between geriatrician and trauma surgeons improves care of elderly accident victims

An immediate consultation between trauma surgeons and a geriatrician improves multidisciplinary care of elderly accident victims and the sensitivity of the family to the patient's ongoing health care needs.

4 Mar 2016

Antibiotics may be linked to delirium and other brain problems

Antibiotics may be linked to a serious disruption in brain function, called delirium, and other brain problems, more than previously thought, according to a "Views and Reviews" article published in the February 17, 2016, online issue of Neurology, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

18 Feb 2016

Older people undergoing cancer surgery more likely to experience injuries, health issues

Older people who undergo cancer surgery are more likely than their younger counterparts to experience injuries and health issues such as falling down, breaking bones, dehydration, bed sores, failure to thrive and delirium. These age-related issues may lead to longer hospital stays, increased health care costs and a greater risk of death, a UCLA study found.

17 Feb 2016