Delirium vs. Dementia

Delirium: Age

Usually older

Dementia: Age

Usually older (hereditary)

Delirium: Onset

Acute or gradual

Dementia: Onset

Progressive (AD); acute (CVA)

Delirium: Associated Conditions

• Drug intoxication

• Alcohol or drug withdrawal

• Metabolic disorders (hypoglycemia, thyroid storm)

• Brain trauma, surgery, tumors

• Meningoencephalitis

• Post-anesthesia

• Febrile

• Electrolyte imbalance

• Dehydration

• Renal insufficiency

• Heart

• Kidney

• Liver failure Infection: UTI/Sepsis

Dementia: Associated Conditions

None; Brain trauma

Delirium: Course

Fluctuates/reversible w treatment

Dementia: Course

Chronic slow decline

Delirium: Duration

Hours to days/months

Dementia: Duration

Months to years

Delirium: Attention

Inability to focus or sustain attention

Dementia: Attention

Intact early; impaired late

Delirium: Sleep-wake cycle

Disrupted (bc increased dopamine)

Dementia: Sleep-wake cycle

Disturbances are common

Delirium: Alertness

Impaired

Dementia: Alertness

Fluctuates

Delirium: Orientation

Impaired

Dementia: Orientation

Intact early; impaired late

Delirium: Behavior

Agitated, withdrawn/depressed

Dementia: Behavior

Incoherent, disorganized

Delirium: Speech

Incoherent, disorganized

Dementia: Speech

Word finding problems/aphasia

Delirium: Thoughts

Disorganized, delusions

Dementia: Thoughts

Impoverished

Delirium: Perceptions

Visual Hallucinations/illusions

Dementia: Perceptions

Usually, intact early