Delirium—a state of confusion that develops suddenly, often following an acute illness or hospitalization—is estimated to impact more than 2.5 million older adults in the U.S. every year, though it often goes undetected. Post-operative delirium, or delirium that sets in after a surgical procedure, impacts as many as 50% of elders at an estimated cost of $164 billion per year.
Excerpted from an article by Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH, Director, Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife in the Huffington Post. To read the full article, click here.