DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS IN OLDER ADULTS - DEMENTIA, DEPRESSION, AND DELIRIUM

Research shows that misdiagnosis can have particularly damaging consequences in older adults. Ir is frequently difficult, however to determine whether observed symptoms are due to aging or to a medical condition. The author examines three common disorders that can be particularly challenging to diagnose in older adults: dementia, depression, and delirium. Three general questions are discussed for each: What are the age-related differences in the disorder's presentation? What medical issues need to be ruled out? What assessment methods are particularly useful in the diagnostic process?