NIDUS is a collaborative research network dedicated to spurring innovation and new advances in delirium research. As such, NIDUS:
- provides resources for conducting research
- encourages the development of new research and measurement resources
- facilitates multi-site collaboration
- provides training opportunities to stimulate future research in the field
- awards pilot funding
- disseminates information on delirium research
Funded through the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging (grant no. R33AG071744, PI: Inouye), NIDUS is a resource for anyone in the delirium research community. In addition, we work alongside the American Delirium Society, American Geriatrics Society, the European Delirium Association, and many other organizations in healthcare, medicine, and aging.
Register for a free NIDUS membership. Then explore our resources and participate in our research efforts, scientific symposia, training programs, and pilot grant programs. Please join us in advancing delirium research!
What is Delirium?
Symptoms
Why study delirium?
Challenges in Research
- Delirium is an acute impairment and disorder of cognition and attention.
- It commonly occurs following acute illness, surgery or hospitalization, especially in older adults.
- Delirium is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, functional and cognitive decline, and institutionalization.
- It often goes unrecognized, leading to missed diagnoses and opportunities for intervention.
- Delirium affects 2.6 million older adults per year and costs more than $164 billion (2013 USD) per year in healthcare expenditures.
- People with delirium often have difficulty paying attention and maintaining awareness of their surroundings.
- Confusion regarding day-to-day events, daily routines, and the roles of familiar people is common.
- Some people may hallucinate, become paranoid, experience rambling speech, and/or have jumbled thoughts.
- Changes in personality can occur—Some persons become quiet and withdrawn; others become agitated or hyperactive.
- Delirium may disrupt normal patterns of sleeping and eating.
- Symptoms may fluctuate throughout the day.
- Delirium is a complex condition, with many contributing factors.
- Underlying biological mechanisms of delirium are not well understood, nor is prognosis.
- Addressing these research gaps may improve approaches for delirium prevention and management.
- The study of delirium is inherently difficult, with many challenges that influence the pace of scientific discovery.
- The diagnosis of delirium lacks a consistent approach to identification, and the fluctuating nature of delirium increases the risk for misdiagnosis.
- There are currently no known biomarkers for the diagnosis or staging of delirium, although several possible biomarkers have been proposed.
- Developing interventions for delirium is also challenging due to its multifactorial etiology, occurrence in many clinical settings and disciplines, and because primary prevention appears to be more effective than intervention after delirium occurs.