Understanding The Differences Between Delirium And Dementia

Delirium and dementia are two conditions rnthat commonly occur in mature adults and can be hard to distinguish at rntimes. Both conditions affect memory,rn judgment, and communication, making it hard to function daily. It may rnseem like a difficult task to differentiate the two, but there are many rndifferences. Here are some of the factors that make delirium different rnfrom dementia, and how you can identify them in your loved ones. Before rnthat, we should understand what exactly the two conditions are. Deliriumrn is a serious disturbance in mental abilities resulting in low rnenvironmental awareness and confusion. It is an acute condition and willrn normally happen within a few hours or days, also known as an acute rnconfusion state. In contrast, dementia is the impaired ability to think,rn remember and decide, causing interference in daily life. It happens rngradually, and will only be noticed over time.

Causes of Delirium and Dementia

Delirium can be triggered by certain illnesses like pneumonia, rndehydration, urinary tract infection, and withdrawal from addictions. Itrn can also be caused by the mixing of some medications, which is why rndoctors should know all the medications and supplements each of their rnpatients is taking. However, the good news is that it will only last a rncouple of days to months. It is mostly temporary if the cause is known, rnand treatment is given.

Dementia is caused by diseases such as vascular dementia, rnAlzheimer’s, or any other related disorder. It is chronic, progressive, rnand mostly incurable.

Communication, Memory, and Focus

Delirium can impair one’s ability to speak coherently or cause them rnto speak out of their usual character. One’s memory is affected to a rnlesser extent, though focusing and maintaining attention on someone or rnsomething is an issue.

For dementia, one may find it difficult to find the right words to rnsay, reducing the ability of self-expression over time. Their alertness rnis not affected until the late stages of dementia, while memory is rnaffected to a larger extent throughout the condition.

Energy Levels

Energy levels in someone with delirium are at the extremes. They are rneither overly active and restless or under-active and lethargic as rncompared to their normal selves. On the other hand, people with dementiarn do not feel a difference in their energy levels until the later stages.

Treatment

Treatmentrn for both conditions differs as well, as one focuses on coping with the rncondition while one is on recovery. Dementia treatment tries to slow thern progression of dementia symptoms like memory loss, behavioral changes, rnand poor judgment. There are a few medications known to treat the more rncommon types of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. As for delirium rntreatment, one must get immediate treatment from a doctor. As it is rntypically caused by an illness or infection, antibiotics or other forms rnof medication can help with recovery.

Identifying delirium in dementia patients is even tougher, and it is rnimportant that you look for signs such as increased agitation, falls, rnlack of attention, differing attention spans, and catastrophic rnreactions.