Rittenhouse Village At Valparaiso

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

Causes of Delirium and Dementia

Delirium can be triggered by certain illnesses like pneumonia, \r\ndehydration, urinary tract infection, and withdrawal from addictions. It\r\n can also be caused by the mixing of some medications, which is why \r\ndoctors should know all the medications and supplements each of their \r\npatients is taking. However, the good news is that it will only last a \r\ncouple of days to months. It is mostly temporary if the cause is known, \r\nand treatment is given.

Dementia is caused by diseases such as vascular dementia, \r\nAlzheimer’s, or any other related disorder. It is chronic, progressive, \r\nand mostly incurable.

Communication, Memory, and Focus

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

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

Energy Levels

Energy levels in someone with delirium are at the extremes. They are \r\neither overly active and restless or under-active and lethargic as \r\ncompared to their normal selves. On the other hand, people with dementia\r\n do not feel a difference in their energy levels until the later stages.

Treatment

Treatment\r\n for both conditions differs as well, as one focuses on coping with the \r\ncondition while one is on recovery. Dementia treatment tries to slow the\r\n progression of dementia symptoms like memory loss, behavioral changes, \r\nand poor judgment. There are a few medications known to treat the more \r\ncommon types of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. As for delirium \r\ntreatment, one must get immediate treatment from a doctor. As it is \r\ntypically caused by an illness or infection, antibiotics or other forms \r\nof medication can help with recovery.

Identifying delirium in dementia patients is even tougher, and it is \r\nimportant that you look for signs such as increased agitation, falls, \r\nlack of attention, differing attention spans, and catastrophic \r\nreactions.