Thanks to Allan A. who sent this along from the WSJ. Having had a brief general anesthetic not long ago, it certainly catches my attention! I often saw “transient” dementia in the ICU, but considered it to be always temporary. New data says otherwise.
William Borten had no idea his wife’s colorectal surgery could affect her mind. But a day later, Judith Sue Borten couldn’t remember her birthday or who the president was.
She was experiencing symptoms of delirium, a confused state that is common in elderly patients after surgery or during intensive care stays.
The delirium went away after a few days. But Mrs. Borten’s cognitive abilities, which were already impaired, declined rapidly afterward, says her husband, who is 84 and lives in Bethesda, Md. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year later and died at 81 from complications of the disease in September. Her doctor suspects the delirium contributed to Mrs. Borten’s cognitive decline.
Delirium is more common than people realize, and can contribute to long-lasting cognitive problems, doctors say. In U.S. hospitals, about five older adults become delirious every minute, or 2.6 million people a year, according to an analysis of government statistics. Patients who experience delirium are at greater risk of long-term cognitive issues, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, say doctors.