Pathology of delirium

As outlined on the slide, there are many risk factors which can predispose a person to experiencing delirium.¹ Because there is such a complex network of predisposing and precipitating factors, it is often difficult to assign a specific cause of delirium in a patient.¹ There are many inter-connected networks within the mid-brain and brain stem that interact with the thalamus and the cortex to regulate arousal.¹ Some drugs have actions within these pathways of the brain, and are therefore thought to contribute to delirium, such as GABAergic sedatives, and anticholinergic and antihistamine drugs.¹

Reference:
1. Wilson JE, Mart MF, Cunningham C, et al. Delirium. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2020; 6 (1): 90.