World Delirium Awareness Day 2020 logo

World Delirium Awareness Day 2020

 Contributed by Maggie Webb, Research Associate at the Aging Brain Center, Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife Delirium is a serious, widespread, and morbid syndrome that is prevalent in many healthcare settings, including inpatient care for hospitalized older adults, post-anesthesia care units and post-surgical care, intensive care units, and the emergency department. Delirium can […]

Olga Boukrina

Possible role for the CNS arousal network in delirium

Contributed by Olga Boukrina, Ph.D., Kessler Foundation Delirium is a multicomponent syndrome produced by a set of unique vulnerabilities (e.g., infection, advanced age, decreased cognitive functioning) and compounding causes (e.g., circadian dysregulation, oxidative stress, neuronal aging). The contribution of each individual factor and their interactions present a complicated picture, but unifying themes in this line […]

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Improving Delirium Recognition in Long-Term Care Facilities: How to Quickly Detect Altered Mental Status

Contributed by Flavia Barreto Garcez, MD & Thiago J. Avelino-Silva, MD, PhD, Division of Geriatrics, University of São Paulo Medical School Changes in mental status are common in older adults admitted to both acute and long-term care facilities. Although several neuropsychiatric conditions can be responsible for these alterations, delirium is often a key cause.1,2 In […]

Rows of book shelves in libraries

The Delirium Bibliography: A Critical Resource & Your One-Stop Shop!

Contributed by Maggie Webb, BA, Research Associate, Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife We are thrilled to announce that the NIDUS website is now home to a widely used resource in the delirium clinical and research community: the Delirium Bibliography! Specifically designed for busy clinicians, the Delirium Bibliography is your one-stop shop for searching […]

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The NIDUS Delirium Research Hub

Contributed by Edward R. Marcantonio, MD, SM, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Director, NIDUS Delirium Research Hub (Research Resources Core) Are you a junior investigator just starting a career in delirium research?  An experienced investigator getting into a new area of research, like biomarkers or neuroimaging? Are you interested in publicizing your work, […]

The Future of Delirium Prevention and Care: A Report from the American Delirium Society Annual Meeting 2019

Contributed by Heidi Lindroth, PhD, RN, Postdoctoral Fellow at Indiana University School of Nursing and Indiana University School of Medicine, Center for Aging Research Envision this future for those hospitalized with an acute illness. Early mobilization is the standard of care. Patients use in-bed cycling and play interactive Wii games to maintain strength and recover […]

White male doctor and older white female patient look at a computer screen

Family caregiving for delirious patients: what it’s like, what we know, and what’s next

Contributed by Tatiana Abrantes, BS, Research Assistant, and Annie Racine, PhD, MPA, Postdoctoral Fellow, Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife Behind many ill patients suffering from delirium is the selfless and inimitable care by a family member, offering support in a variety of ways, whether physically, emotionally or financially. Consider this hospital scene: a […]

Seated older man looking at iPad with care.coach dog avatar on screen

Virtual technologies for inpatient monitoring: A new inpatient team member?

Contributed by Nick Bott, Psy.D, from the Clinical Excellence Research Center at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is a well-established multi-domain nonpharmacological intervention for the prevention of delirium in hospitalized older people.1 Strengths of HELP include its focus on early intervention for delirium prevention, the targeted […]

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Systematic Review of Delirium Severity Measurement

Contributed by Heidi Lindroth PhD, RN, Postdoctoral Fellow at Indiana University School of Nursing and Indiana University School of Medicine, Center for Aging Research Upwards of 4 million hospitalized adults experience delirium, a form of acute brain failure each year.1-3 The measurement of delirium severity, defined as the intensity of a delirious episode, is growing […]

Older woman in hospital bed with younger woman sitting next to her

Case Study: Delirium in an Older, Hospitalized Woman

This post was contributed by Deborah D’Avolio, Ph.D., BC-ACNP, ANP, Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University The following case study illustrates an example of how delirium can occur in a hospitalized older adult. Mrs. R is a 68-year-old, Italian speaking woman. She was admitted to the oncology unit for ongoing treatment of advanced uterine cancer. Mrs. R lives […]