S.No.
|
CHARACTERISTICS
|
DEMENTIA
|
DELIRIUM
|
1.
|
Onset
|
Insidious
|
Acute
|
2.
|
Course
|
Fluctuating
|
Progressive
|
3.
|
Duration
|
Months to Years
|
Days to Months
|
4.
|
Severity
|
Moderate
|
High
|
5.
|
Risk factor
|
Aging
|
Previous medical condition
|
6.
|
Reversibility
|
Irreversible but depends on the
cause
|
Reversible
|
7.
|
Main cause
|
Genetics, brain trauma, stroke,
heart issues.
|
Previous medical condition, abuse
of medication, alcohol or drug withdrawal, mental illness.
|
8.
|
Treatment
|
FDA approved drugs can slow the
progress of the condition.
|
Can be cured with timely diagnosis
and intervention.
|
9.
|
Activities of Daily Living
|
No disturbances until later
stages.
|
Either over active or under
active.
|
10.
|
Attention
|
Not affected until later stages.
|
Very poorly affected.
|
11.
|
Speech
|
Normal
|
Slurred
|
12.
|
Hallucination
|
Less common
|
More common
|
13.
|
Consciousness
|
Clear until later stage
|
Fluctuating
|
14.
|
Memory
|
Recent memory impaired,
confabulation, perseveration
|
Recent memory impaired
|
15.
|
Sleep
|
Worse in evening, sun downing
|
Worse at night
|
16.
|
Psychomotor activity
|
Often normal
|
Increased or decreased
|
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