Study into link between injury and delirium

Published on Friday 6 March 2009 09:16

A RESEARCH programme is to be launched into why a third of older people with hip fractures go on to suffer from delirium.

The Edinburgh University study will investigate the puzzling statistic along with charity Help the Aged.

Early indications suggest a stress hormone produced mainly in older people following a bad injury such as a hip fracture may induce the delirium, and medics are hopeful of establishing a formal link between the two.

If they do it means drugs may be developed to control delirium in elderly hip fracture patients.

Dr Helen Rippon, a member of the charity's research into ageing arm, said: "Delirium can have a huge impact on a person's quality of life.

If we can establish a casual link between stressful events such as acute illness or hip fracture and delirium, it may be possible to prevent delirium by controlling the level of cortisol in the body."