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A significant proportion of the population aged 75 and over experiences an episode of major depression. Symptoms of depression manifested by elderly patients are sometimes treated as a natural element of the aging process, leaving elderly patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. It is postulated that the use of the Mediterranean diet may counteract the development of depression and alleviate depressive symptoms due to the anti-inflammatory properties of this diet. The aim of the systematic review was to assess whether the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet is related to the occurrence and severity of depressive symptoms in people over 65 years of age. We included 9 studies out of 317 identified manuscripts. The results of the studies included in the review indicate that adherence to the principles of the Mediterranean diet by elderly people may bring beneficial results in the prevention of depressive symptoms and justify further search for the relationship between this diet and its individual components with the mental well-being of old patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant proportion of the population aged 75 and over experiences an episode of major depression. Symptoms of depression manifested by elderly patients are sometimes treated as a natural element of the aging process, leaving elderly patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. It is postulated that the use of the Mediterranean diet may counteract the development of depression and alleviate depressive symptoms due to the anti-inflammatory properties of this diet. The aim of the systematic review was to assess whether the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet is related to the occurrence and severity of depressive symptoms in people over 65 years of age. We included 9 studies out of 317 identified manuscripts. The results of the studies included in the review indicate that adherence to the principles of the Mediterranean diet by elderly people may bring beneficial results in the prevention of depressive symptoms and justify further search for the relationship between this diet and its individual components with the mental well-being of old patients.

The aim of this study is to present a case of delirium -the state occurring frequently in elderly patients. A 80-year-old woman was hospitalized in the department of internal diseases for internal medical examinations before scheduled operation of femoral osteosynthesis. In ward, she was given analgesic medicines from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), paracetamole and opioids influencing central nervous system. On the second day after modifying the painkilling treatment (single doses of paracetamole were increased and oral opioid medication was introduced) a quickly progressing (within a few hours) delirium was observed. Its occurrence was ascribed to the application of strong medicines influencing central nervous system. Treatment was modified then; the opioid medicine was replaced with NSAID, which had already been used before, applied intravenously. Subsidence of delirium clinical symptoms and cognitive functions' improvement was observed.

The article presents the clinical picture of delirium characterized with acute, fluctuating altered levels of consciousness, inattention and cognitive function disorders. The article is comprised the most popular assessment scales for detecting (CAM - Confusion Assessment Method) and monitoring the course of delirium (DRS-R-98: Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98; DOM: Delirium-O-Meter). The scales mentioned above contain unequivocally defined rating criteria of the patient's clinical state. The article mentions scientific studies concerning predisposing and precipitating factors for delirium such as age, severity of illnesses, cognitive impairment, metabolic and electrolyte disturbances, grouped according to the recommendation grades based on scientific evidence and the opinion of experts. Categories of recommendation of possible therapeutic intervention are presented with special emphasis being put on interventions that are always beneficial, useful, successful and safe. Moreover, recommendable pharmacological treatment methods (haloperidol, new antipsychotic drugs) as well as non-pharmacological ones (comprising routine screening of cognitive functions, comprehensive medical and nursing care) are described.