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Delirium Superimposed on Dementia
Mohamed Eshmawey. Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2026-07-18
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Dementia is a known risk factor for delirium. The literature suggests that cerebral vulnerability in patients with dementia may predispose them to the development of delirium. This review gives a general overview of delirium superimposed on dementia. It starts with a general discussion of the nature of the interrelationship between delirium and dementia. This is followed by research studies in this field, including pathophysiological relations between delirium and dementia, and the effects of delirium on dementia progression. Finally, we show different methods to manage delirium in patients with dementia. The review identifies the following key (1) the coexistence of dementia and delirium presents significant diagnostic challenge because of overlapping symptoms; (2) delirium superimposed on dementia is associated with poorer clinical outcomes than either condition alone, including accelerated cognitive and functional decline; (3) prevention remains the most effective management strategy; and (4) multicomponent non-pharmacological interventions, carried out by a multidisciplinary team, have demonstrated benefits in reducing delirium incidence. Delirium superimposed on dementia is frequently under-recognized. Early diagnosis and management of delirium superimposed on dementia can be challenging. More effort is needed to better standardize and optimize symptom assessment. Multicomponent preventive measures should be applied to decrease the risk of this condition. The aim of the treatment is to identify and treat the underlying cause. It is essential to improve caregivers’ knowledge about this syndrome to improve healthcare quality.
Key findings
- Dementia is a known risk factor for delirium.
- The literature suggests that cerebral vulnerability in patients with dementia may predispose them to the development of delirium.
- This review gives a general overview of delirium superimposed on dementia.
- It starts with a general discussion of the nature of the interrelationship between delirium and dementia.
- This is followed by research studies in this field, including pathophysiological relations between delirium and dementia, and the effects of delirium on dementia progression.
Why it matters
This narrative review reports that delirium superimposed on dementia is associated with poorer clinical outcomes than either condition alone, including accelerated cognitive and functional decline. Prevention remains the most effective management strategy, and multicomponent non-pharmacological interventions carried out by a multidisciplinary team have demonstrated benefits in reducing delirium incidence.
Study details
- Study designnarrative review
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 30/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: journal h-index 8 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “narrative review”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author Mohamed Eshmawey: h-index 4 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University Hospital of Geneva: institution h-index 635 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 30 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/sanpp176020008
- Original source →
- Free full text: Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Eshmawey, M. (2026). Delirium Superimposed on Dementia. Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.3390/sanpp176020008
Vancouver
Eshmawey M. Delirium Superimposed on Dementia. Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 2026. doi:10.3390/sanpp176020008.
BibTeX
@article{eshmawey2026-0b32d935,
author = {Eshmawey, Mohamed},
title = {{Delirium Superimposed on Dementia}},
journal = {Swiss Archives of Neurology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/sanpp176020008},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/sanpp176020008}
}
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