Running head: Dementia vs. Delirium 1
Dementia vs. Delirium
Kierstyn Williams
Victoria College
Dementia vs. Delirium 2
Abstract
Dementia and delirium are two very similar yet different complications that affect mental status. Including in the paper will be the definition of each complication, causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment. I will be discussing the onset and duration of the complications as wells. Pulling all my research together to compare just how similar and different they are.
Dementia vs. Delirium 3
There are many complications that can occur in the human body that can affect the way a person thinks, reacts, and remembers. However I will only be talking about two specific kinds …show more content…
Dementia can lead to other diseases that prolong and progress symptoms; the disease most seen in patients with dementia is Alzheimer’s, which takes an even longer time to develop and show signs of further decline. There are only a few treatments that can help dementia but many are the same treatment for Alzheimer’s. “Medication for dementia should be started only by specialists. Those with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease may benefit from an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil, galantamine or rivastigmine” ( Warren 42 ). It takes a lot of patience to help care and treat a person with dementia and therefore definitely a lot more to learn.
Delirium is a fast progressing state of changes in mental status where the person demonstrates a lot of confusion. It is caused by an interruption of messages in the brain that have to travel to and from different signal receptors. Delirium’ causes are like a broken train that is stuck and cannot get to its destination. The causes can be derived from multiple body system failures caused by things such as a common cold, viruses, poor nutrition, “ systemic infections, febrile illness, metabolic disorders, hepatic encephalopathy, head trauma seizures, migraine headaches, brain abscess, stroke, post-operative state, and electrolyte imbalances.” (Townsend 333). People with delirium may experience some of the symptoms such as a hard time staying on task, insomnia, hallucinations, problems with …show more content…
Delirium 5
orientation, continuity of care from nursing staff, patient is approached and handled gently, encouragement of family involvement, good fluid and diet intake, encourage regular sleeping pattern, things to avoid: ward transfers, physical restraints, catheters, routinely sedating, arguing with patient.” (Tomlinson 25). Dementia and delirium though they are very similar, are actually very different in their own ways. In people with dementia they tend to have more memory loss but in people with delirium they tend to have more hallucinations. Dementia has a slow start and is irreversible whereas delirium starts very sudden and if caught in time, and treated with the proper treatment, can be reversible. There is still a lot we don’t know about each topic whether they are more alike or more different, more pharmacological treatments, as well as non-pharmacological treatments. The more evidence based practice research we continue to do will hopefully present more answers so that more treatment for both complications can provided, resulting in more lives can be
Dementia vs. Delirium
Kierstyn Williams
Victoria College
Dementia vs. Delirium 2
Abstract
Dementia and delirium are two very similar yet different complications that affect mental status. Including in the paper will be the definition of each complication, causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment. I will be discussing the onset and duration of the complications as wells. Pulling all my research together to compare just how similar and different they are.
Dementia vs. Delirium 3
There are many complications that can occur in the human body that can affect the way a person thinks, reacts, and remembers. However I will only be talking about two specific kinds …show more content…
Dementia can lead to other diseases that prolong and progress symptoms; the disease most seen in patients with dementia is Alzheimer’s, which takes an even longer time to develop and show signs of further decline. There are only a few treatments that can help dementia but many are the same treatment for Alzheimer’s. “Medication for dementia should be started only by specialists. Those with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease may benefit from an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil, galantamine or rivastigmine” ( Warren 42 ). It takes a lot of patience to help care and treat a person with dementia and therefore definitely a lot more to learn.
Delirium is a fast progressing state of changes in mental status where the person demonstrates a lot of confusion. It is caused by an interruption of messages in the brain that have to travel to and from different signal receptors. Delirium’ causes are like a broken train that is stuck and cannot get to its destination. The causes can be derived from multiple body system failures caused by things such as a common cold, viruses, poor nutrition, “ systemic infections, febrile illness, metabolic disorders, hepatic encephalopathy, head trauma seizures, migraine headaches, brain abscess, stroke, post-operative state, and electrolyte imbalances.” (Townsend 333). People with delirium may experience some of the symptoms such as a hard time staying on task, insomnia, hallucinations, problems with …show more content…
Delirium 5
orientation, continuity of care from nursing staff, patient is approached and handled gently, encouragement of family involvement, good fluid and diet intake, encourage regular sleeping pattern, things to avoid: ward transfers, physical restraints, catheters, routinely sedating, arguing with patient.” (Tomlinson 25). Dementia and delirium though they are very similar, are actually very different in their own ways. In people with dementia they tend to have more memory loss but in people with delirium they tend to have more hallucinations. Dementia has a slow start and is irreversible whereas delirium starts very sudden and if caught in time, and treated with the proper treatment, can be reversible. There is still a lot we don’t know about each topic whether they are more alike or more different, more pharmacological treatments, as well as non-pharmacological treatments. The more evidence based practice research we continue to do will hopefully present more answers so that more treatment for both complications can provided, resulting in more lives can be