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Delirium The Most Common Health Complication You ve Never Heard Of

For older adults it can hit hard during routine hospital stays

ARIEL SKELLEY/GETTY IMAGES About half of adults 65 and older who are admitted to the hospital find themselves in an unforeseen state of confusion during their stay. Sometimes the change is mild and temporary; other times the effects are more severe and can have a lasting impact on brain health. It's called delirium, and according to a new from the AARP-founded Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH), it's “the most common surgical complication for older adults you likely have never even heard of.” In fact, a recent AARP survey on delirium and and older found that 74 percent of respondents were not familiar with the condition. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

A frequent and frightening reality

Simply put, delirium is a sudden change in thinking and behavior that is often brought on after an injury, illness, infection or surgery — although “it can be triggered by almost anything,” explains geriatrician Sharon Inouye, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Aging Brain Center at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, in Boston. And it can show up in many different ways, which makes delirium difficult to diagnose. A patient, for example, may appear drowsy or “just not themselves” during a hospital stay. They may not know “where they are; they may think they're at home,” says Inouye, a contributor to the GCBH report. “They may not recognize people — even familiar people, even family members. They may not remember the nurse who was just in their room 10 minutes ago.” Restlessness, agitation, paranoia and hallucinations are other common signs of delirium. But no matter how it manifests, delirium can be traumatic for the more than 6 million Americans 65 and older who experience it each year. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > What's also scary is the lasting damage delirium can cause. While most recover from its sudden symptoms — which can last hours or continue on for months — some people never return to their previous level of functioning, according to the GCBH report. People who experience delirium may later find they have difficulty carrying out everyday activities. They also may be more likely to experience falls or notice longer-term declines in thinking and memory, the GCBH report states.

Preventing delirium is possible

There is some good news when it comes to delirium, however: Oftentimes, “people can make a difference in what happens to them,” explains Marilyn Albert, director of the Division of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and chair of the GCBH. According to the GCBH report, delirium is preventable in up to 40 percent of cases. Delirium can be traumatic for the more than 6 million Americans 65 and older who experience it each year. Before a planned trip to the hospital, patients can build up their physical and mental resilience by way of exercise, diet and adequate sleep. Experts often refer to this practice as “prehabilitation.” The GCBH report also recommends patients bring a list of all the medications they are taking to the hospital, along with their hearing aids, prescription glasses and dentures to help keep them oriented. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. or hospital admission. "If everybody who is 50 and older went into elective surgery, and they didn't let their health care provider get away with not screening them, I think we could change things dramatically,” Lock says. If an individual is identified as being at , health care workers may be able to monitor the patient more closely and pick up any early warning signs before delirium sets in. A patient's mental status “is a vital sign,” Inouye says. “We need to make sure your brain is working, just as we trust that your body's working fine.” in keeping delirium at bay by reporting any change in mental status or behavior to health care providers and by questioning any drugs used to treat delirium — especially antipsychotic medications. "Those kinds of things [can] help divert people from ever getting to this situation,” Lock says. Though delirium is still an under-recognized issue for most people, experts agree it's becoming a bigger focus among medical professionals. GCBH chair Albert says, “There's more consensus on what the problem is, and there's more consensus on what might be done to reduce the likelihood of delirium as well as to make a difference once that appears.” You can find the . AARP also has tips for patients and caregivers on how to prevent delirium and recognize its signs. More on health AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS