The role of neuroimaging in elucidating delirium pathophysiology.
Understanding of delirium pathogenesis remains limited despite improved diagnosis, and elucidation of risk factors and prognosis. Major advances in neuroimaging offer the possibility of probing the mechanisms and networks involved in delirium and hence improving understanding of this often devastating syndrome. This review describes the current literature of imaging studies in delirium and related conditions, introduces some of the newer capabilities of neuroimaging with magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography, and discusses how these techniques may be applied to the study of delirium. Despite considerable challenges in patient recruitment, study design, intersubject variability, and scanner and contrast agent availability, imaging offers great potential for the identification and clarification of pathogenic mechanisms of delirium and its long-term sequelae.
Alsop
David C
DC
Department of Radiology, Ansin 226, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA. dalsop@bidmc.harvard.edu
Fearing
Michael A
MA
Johnson
Keith
K
Sperling
Reisa
R
Fong
Tamara G
TG
Inouye
Sharon K
SK
D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009929:Organ Size; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon