15th February 2025

A 90-year-old man attends your clinic.

A 90-year-old man attends your clinic. His wife reports he is “not his usual self” and describes him becoming restless and disorientated at times. Yesterday evening, she found him attempting to leave the house to “visit his mother”, who lived nearby but passed away some years ago from bowel cancer.

In clinic today, he complains of some constipation but brief cognitive assessment appears normal. He reports that his mood, sleep and appetite are normal.

Which of the following is key in differentiating delirium from dementia? 

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.