A large-scale study has revealed that agitation, confusion, and poor focus are significant risk factors for dementia and mortality in older adults.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014, more than 5 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with dementia. Dementia presents itself in various forms, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent, and is marked by difficulties in remembering, thinking, and making decisions.
The exact cause of dementia is still unclear, but various genetic and environmental risk factors have been linked to this condition.
Researchers have been trying to understand the link between sudden changes in mental state and the development of dementia. While previous studies have identified an association, the exact nature of this relationship has remained uncertain.
Researchers in Australia have tackled the uncertainties surrounding dementia by conducting a thorough analysis of data from 626,467 patients aged 65 and above. These patients, who had no previous dementia diagnosis, were admitted to hospitals in New South Wales between January 2009 and December 2014. The findings of this study were published in the British Medical Journal on March 27.
Out of the total number of patients, a staggering 55,211 individuals experienced at least one instance of delirium, characterized by symptoms such as agitation, confusion, or difficulty in maintaining focus.
A total of 55,211 patients were paired with an equal number of patients who shared similar characteristics such as age, gender, frailty, reasons for hospitalization, and length of hospital stay. After a span of five years, these 110,422 individuals were reassessed to determine the prevalence of dementia diagnoses during this time frame.
The study revealed that individuals who had suffered from delirium had a 39 percent greater chance of mortality and were three times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia during the duration of the research, as opposed to those who did not experience delirium. Interestingly, this association was more prominent among men than women. Moreover, each additional episode of delirium was linked to a 20 percent higher risk of developing dementia.
According to the researchers, preventing and treating delirium is crucial in reducing the global burden of dementia. They emphasize that delirium can triple a person’s risk of developing dementia, making it a significant factor to consider.
These findings are based solely on observations, and further research is needed to establish any biochemical mechanisms that may explain this data. However, the results do highlight a strong connection between delirium and dementia, indicating the need for additional investigation.
The researchers acknowledge that their findings align with the idea that delirium may contribute to the development of dementia. However, they emphasize that these results should not be taken as conclusive evidence due to the inherent limitations of observational studies when it comes to establishing causality. Nonetheless, they believe that this study offers valuable insights into the relationship between delirium and dementia.