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Sudden confusion in the hospital may signal higher dementia risk later in life

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Sudden confusion in the hospital may signal higher dementia risk later in life

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Hospitalized older adults can suddenly become disoriented and struggle to make sense of their surroundings. This condition, known as delirium, disrupts attention, awareness and clear thinking. The confusion can set in abruptly or come and go, sometimes changing in severity over time. It is far from rare, as it affects up to 30% of older hospital patients and as many as 80% of those in intensive care units (ICUs). There are several factors that can trigger such a state, including an infection, surgery or even certain medications.

A recent study set out to explore if delirium during hospitalization could have lasting consequences for memory and thinking. The researchers followed 3,501 older adults enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA), all of whom had experienced at least one hospital stay between 2004 and 2023, but none had dementia before being hospitalized.

The team kept track of their cognitive health for a median of 7.2 years, putting participants through in-person memory and thinking tests every 15 months. Neurologists and neuropsychologists assessed whether they developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia over this period.

According to results published in JAMA Neurology , the consequences of delirium appeared to extend far beyond the hospital walls. Older adults who experienced an episode during or shortly after hospitalization were more likely to face more severe cognitive impairment and faster cognitive decline.


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