Delirium in Older Adults: Finding Order in the Disorder

This 2½ day conference will be held in the beginning of 2014. In keeping with a Bedside to Bench theme; this conference’s primary focus will be to explore translational opportunities whereby studies of potential delirium mechanisms could help inform future research, clinical prevention and management.
Delirium is a disorder of attention and consciousness affecting mostly the elderly. Estimates place its costs to US health care at up to $152 billion a year. Comorbidity, hospitalization, previous delirium and dementia represent key risk factors, yet the pathophysiology of this multifactorial geriatric syndrome remains obscure. Clinicians recognize that problems of cognition, mobility and mood frequently coexist with delirium. The conference seeks to bring together experts from basic and clinical perspectives to share insights, promote opportunities and develop a common framework for future research.