Delirium, Dementia, and COVID-19

Delirium is so common in COVID-19 patients that some doctors have suggested it be added one of the disease’s diagnostic criteria.
 
One data set found that 55% of people tracked in COVID-19 ICUs developed the condition—in normal times, that number would hover around 33%.
 
Delirium can also be a precursor to dementia—and if the COVID-19 link has one silver lining, it's that it has sparked fresh interest in research into the interplay between the conditions.
 
Added Challenge: Simple interventions like having family members present to orient patients can cut delirium incidence by 40%—but on COVID-19 wards, that’s rarely possible.
 
Nature