Dementia and Delirium are two completely different medical conditions that affect cognitive function of the brain. Many people tend to confuse them because they share some similar symptoms and signs.
Here are the main differences between the two:
Dementia: is a slow progressing decline in brain function that affect thinking, language, memory and behavior. It takes years to progress and is usually irreversible.
Delirium: is an acute confusion that happens because a person is sick with something else. It develops within few hours to few days or a week. It is also common in elderly people, but it resolves once the condition that induced it is treated.
Differences Between Delirium and Dementia
Below is a table that list the main differences
Delirium | Dementia |
Sudden onset | Slow and gradual over years |
Resolve after few days/weeks | Permanent |
Has a curable cause | Incurable brain Disorder |
Memory is not always affected | Memory is Lost |
Slow confused speech | Difficulty finding right the word |
Read more about Dementia Here