Dementia and delirium are confusing conditions to differentiate and experience. Dementia is a progressive decline in intellectual functions and other cognitive skills that leads to a decline in an individual's performance in daily activities. Unlike dementia, delirium, also known as acute confusional state, is an acute medical condition that causes confusion and other disturbances in a person's thinking and behavior, including attention, his level of activity and his perception. It is very important to distinguish between the two conditions because delirium can occur in someone who already has dementia. A study by Fick and Mion (2008) indicated that approximately 22% of adults with dementia develop delirium. Dementia and delirium can cause impaired functioning, memory loss, poor judgment, and speech problems; however, there are many differences between the two. Although delirium and dementia can present with similar symptoms, they are two different conditions. Indeed, an individual can suffer from both delirium and dementia and it is therefore essential to differentiate between the two. Additionally, delirium is reversible while dementia is a permanent condition. Therefore, differentiating the two will help in the timely treatment of delirium. The causes of both conditions are similar in one way or another, while still varying. Delirium is caused by acute illness or drug toxicity, while dementia is caused by anatomical changes in the brain that are usually irreversible. Dementia is a disease caused by Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia, prontotemporal dementia and other related diseases. It can also be caused by emotional illnesses, metabolic disorders, trauma... middle of paper ...... medical conditions. The two pathologies coexist, which complicates the differential diagnosis in patients with cognitive disorders. Patients with cognitive dysfunction must triage the potential causes of their impairment because: Dementia and delirium have similar symptoms and therefore require distinct treatment strategies. Dementia and delirium are characterized by cognitive decline leading to changes in brain function. They both affect an individual's attention, thinking, and personality. Works Cited Whaley, L. and Breitner, J. (2002) Dementia. London: Health Press. Fick, D.M. & Mion, L.C. (2008). Delirium superimposed on dementia. American Journal of Nursing, 108(1), 52-60. Ajilore, O. A. and Kumar, A. (2004). Delirium and dementia. FOCUS, 2, 210-220. Arnold, E. (2004). Sort the 3 Ds: delirium, dementia, depression. Breastfeeding, 34 (6), 36–42.