Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42698026›Full record

ReviewZeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie2026

Pathophysiology and biomarkers of delirium in older adults-Narrative review.

Fatima Irfan, Janine Jorke, Niels Hansen, Christine A F von Arnim

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Fatima IrfanDepartment of Geriatrics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 42, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Janine JorkeDepartment of Geriatrics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 42, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Niels HansenDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Christine A F von ArnimDepartment of Geriatrics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 42, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. christine.arnim@med.uni-goettingen.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDelirium is a frequent acute neurocognitive syndrome in older adults, associated with morbidity, mortality, and long-term cognitive decline. Its pathophysiology is multifactorial and not yet fully understood.

objectiveTo summarize clinically relevant concepts of delirium pathophysiology and emerging biomarkers.

methodsNarrative review of literature from 2010-2026, prioritizing human studies, reviews, meta-analyses, and clinically relevant pathophysiological literature relevant to older hospitalized or perioperative patients.

resultsDelirium arises from the interaction of predisposing vulnerability and acute triggers. Relevant mechanisms include neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance, neurodegeneration, metabolic dysfunction and blood-brain barrier impairment. Biomarker research has identified promising candidates, including inflammatory, neurodegenerative, metabolic and stress-related markers but none is currently established for routine clinical use.

conclusionDelirium prevention remains clinically driven. Multimodal biomarkers may support future risk stratification but require prospective validation.

Indexed as

BiomarkersDeliriumAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleRisk FactorsBiomarkersBlood-brain barrierMetabolic DysregulationNeurodegenerationNeuroinflammationPredisposition

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.