Delirium increases the risk of which cognitive condition?

• A. Dementia
• B. Parkinson's disease
• C. Stroke
• D. Depression

Answer: (A)

Delirium in older adults signals a lasting disruption in brain function and often reveals underlying brain vulnerability. After an episode of delirium, the risk of developing dementia increases, and cognitive decline can progress more rapidly over time, especially with recurrent or prolonged delirium. This relationship remains even when you account for a person’s baseline cognition and other risk factors, suggesting delirium can accelerate or unmask neurodegenerative processes that lead to dementia.

Parkinson's disease and stroke are distinct conditions with different etiologies and progression patterns, and delirium is not a direct creator of Parkinson's disease; it may reflect vascular or systemic stress but does not primarily establish this degenerative motor disorder. Depression can affect mood and cognition, but delirium’s well-supported long-term cognitive consequence is an increased risk of dementia, which is why this option best fits the question.