Delirium occurrence in hospitalised older people is positively associated with development of dementia postdischarge

Delirium is a disorder that is characterised by a rapid deterioration of mental function triggered by a medical disorder or environmental change. Delirium has distressing effects and can lead to long-lasting physical and cognitive impairment. It affects a person’s behaviour, attention, thinking and memory. It can also cause premature death. Delirium more frequently occurs in people living with dementia and recent research has suggested that older people, with normal cognitive function, are also at risk of developing delirium. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between delirium and post-discharge dementia in a cohort of older adults admitted to an acute older person’s ward.