The Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Delirium and Dementia in Older Adults: A Review

• Published in: CNS neuroscience & therapeutics 2011-10, Vol.17 (5), p.506-513
• Main Authors: Simone, Mark J., Tan, Zaldy S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Central nervous system; Chronic illnesses; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Cytokines; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Delirium; Delirium - etiology; Delirium - pathology; Delirium - physiopathology; Dementia; Dementia - etiology; Dementia - pathology; Dementia - physiopathology; Dementia disorders; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immune system; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation - physiopathology; Inflammation Mediators - physiology; Medical sciences; Metabolism; Nervous system; Neurodegeneration; Neurology; Older people; Pathogenesis; Polymorphism; Review; Reviews; Sleep; Surgery; Trauma; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 1755-5930; 1755-5949
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2010.00173.x

SUMMARY Aims: To review recent evidence that suggests inflammation plays a similar role in the pathogenesis of delirium and dementia. Methods: We performed a literature search of original research and review articles in PubMed using the keywords: delirium, dementia, and inflammation. We summarized the evidence linking inflammation to the pathogenesis of delirium and dementia. Discussion: Delirium and dementia share similarities in clinical and pathogenic features, leading to the speculation that instead of being distinct clinical entities, the two age‐related conditions may be linked by a common pathogenic mechanism. Inflammatory markers have been shown to be elevated in both delirium and dementia, thereby implicating inflammation as a possible mediating factor in their genesis. There is evidence in both basic science and clinical research literature that elevated cytokines play a crucial role in the development of cognitive dysfunction observed in both dementia and delirium. Conclusion: Mounting evidence supports the role of inflammation in the development of both dementia and delirium. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these relationships.