It is also seen as impaired memory, disrupted thinking, restlessness, disruptive sleep-wake cycles, anxiety, suspicion and agitation. These symptoms often worsen at night. Although some scientific research is showing that more people may have this dementing illness, contracting Alzheimer's disease is not an across the board consequence of aging. Delirium is often brought on by depression, nutritional imbalances and infection, particularly urinary tract infections and respiratory infections. Decreased blood pressure, sensory deprivation or overload, dehydration and drugs can also bring on delirium.
Many older persons take a lot of different medications for a lot different reasons.
Some are prescribed by the advertisements on TV, and most are prescribed by different physicians. In a 1990 study in North Carolina found that among older adults receiving home care, six out of nine most frequently prescribed drug groups were medications that are often associated with drug induced confusion. If you are wondering if your mother's confusion is avoidable and curable, the answer is a two part consideration. First, there needs to be an awareness of the possible side effects of a particular drug being prescribed. These symptoms are often present in confused elderly persons who may be having drug induced confusion.