Delirium and Dementia: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment

Course overview

Delirium and dementia are common but distinct conditions that are often misdiagnosed. Delirium is an acute, transient change in consciousness, awareness, or memory, characterized by confusion, disorientation, agitation, and hallucinations. Dementia is a group of symptoms that severely affect memory, thinking, and social abilities, interfering with daily life. While they can present similarly (impaired memory, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations), they are separate diagnoses requiring accurate evaluation and intervention. This learning activity will cover the pathophysiology, prevalence, differential diagnosis, and treatment of delirium and dementia.