QEEG abnormalities in cognitively unimpaired patients with delirium

Introduction Delirium is an acute fluctuation in attention with reduced awareness, orientation, cognitive disturbances, sleep-wake cycle and emotional regulation. Psychomotor dysfunction represents a prominent feature defining three different delirium subtypes: hyperactive, marked by agitation, hypoactive, with lethargy and decreased motor activity, and mixed.1 Delirium prevalence increases with age. It is particularly frequent during hospitalisation (20%–60% in elderly individuals), and is associated with high mortality rates.1 Several factors may concur to delirium, as neurodegenerative diseases (it is considered a prodromal feature of dementia with Lewy bodies, DLB), electrolyte imbalance, alcohol or drug intoxication or withdrawal.1 In neurodegenerative conditions central cholinergic deficiency is a leading hypothesised mechanism.2 Delirium may result from an altered mechanism of external information processing due to derangement of intrinsic oscillation of cholinergic thalamocortical neurons, which modulates excitability of widespread cortical areas (the so-called thalamocortical dysrhythmia, TCD).2...

Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry - February 14, 2023 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Carrarini, C., Calisi, D., De Rosa, M. A., Di Iorio, A., DArdes, D., Pellegrino, R., Gazzina, S., Pilotto, A., Arighi, A., Carandini, T., Cagnin, A., Mozzetta, S., Gallucci, M., Bonifati, D. M., Costa, C., D'Antonio, F., Bruno, G., Cipollone, F., Babiloni Tags: PostScript Source Type: research