Delirium (acute confusional state) is a sudden change in a person's mental status, leading to confusion and unusual behavior. Symptoms of delirium usually develop over the course of several hours to a few days. Symptoms may fluctuate and often include: Confusion and disorientation, including hallucinations, delusions...

Dental care for older people is much the same as for younger adults. But older adults do have concerns that younger adults do not. These may include: Caring for dentures. Having trouble holding a toothbrush. Having gum disease. Having tooth decay on the roots of teeth. Replacing missing teeth and broken fillings...

People who have substance use disorder keep using alcohol or other substances even though it causes harm to themselves or others. People of all ages can have this disorder. They may misuse prescription or over-the-counter medicines, use marijuana or other drugs, drink too much alcohol, or mix alcohol and medicines. This...

Learn about COVID-19 and how to help protect yourself if you're at high risk for getting very sick from the virus.

Covers making your home fall-proof to prevent injuries. Looks at common hazards like clutter and throw rugs. Discusses simple changes you can make in your home and the way you do some activities to reduce risk of falling.

Neuropsychological testing can help your doctor find out how a problem with your brain is affecting your ability to reason, concentrate, solve problems, or remember. Doctors use a wide variety of tests for neuropsychological testing. In most cases you will take a series of tests, rather than a single test. This type of...

What is depression? Depression is a mental health condition that causes you to feel sad, lose interest in activities that you used to enjoy, withdraw from others, and have little energy. It's different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy. Depression can also cause people to feel hopeless about the...

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of your brain. Special sensors called electrodes are attached to your head. They're hooked by wires to a computer. The computer records your brain's electrical activity on the screen. Or it may record the activity on paper as wavy...

Learn about loneliness, including how it feels, who is most likely to experience loneliness, ways it can affect your health, and things you can do to reduce loneliness.

High blood pressure means that blood is pushing too hard against artery walls. The force of this blood can damage the heart and the delicate inner lining of the artery walls. This damage can lead to many health problems. One problem is atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries." This problem happens when the inner...

A stroke often causes memory problems. If a person has problems with memory, you might get helpful tips from their stroke rehab team. These tips may include: Set a daily routine, if possible. Warn the person about upcoming changes in routine. Someone who has had a stroke may be very sensitive to minor changes in the...

Briefly discusses frailty in older adults, including what happens if someone is frail. Offers ways to help an older adult who has frailty.

Explains what unplanned weight loss is. Includes causes, treatments, when to seek help, and healthy ways to gain weight.

Most people with Parkinson's disease can eat the same healthy, balanced diet recommended for anyone. This includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, legumes, poultry, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. Protein may interfere with how your body absorbs levodopa. This can make the effects of the...

What is pseudobulbar affect (PBA)? Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a problem in the brain that causes you to laugh or cry for no reason. The sudden fits of tears or laughter usually have nothing to do with what you're feeling. And you can't control them. Living with PBA can be very stressful. What causes it? Brain damage...

What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from a mild concussion to a severe head injury. It is caused by a blow to the head or body, a wound that breaks through the skull (such as from a gunshot), a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain. This can cause bruising...

Social skills training helps you get along better with other people in daily life, at work, and in social situations. These classes also help you develop skills for your personal relationships and can help you learn how to take care of yourself. In...

There are many different programs that can help a child who has ASD. Some programs start early in your child's development to help with symptoms. These help your child focus on improving the ability to communicate, learn, be social, and adapt to...

Finding the right nursing home can help you feel safe and cared for. A good first step to choosing a nursing home is to make a list of homes you might be interested in. Talk to family, friends, doctors, and others to get recommendations of good nursing homes. If you can, it's good to plan ahead so you have time to learn...

Explains what stigma is in relation to mental health conditions. Suggests ways to get past stigma and self-stigma in relationships and at work. Briefly touches on legal concerns and the importance of advance planning documents.

The symptoms of depression may be hard to notice at first. They can be different from person to person. The two most common symptoms of depression are: Feeling sad, hopeless, or tearful nearly every day. Losing interest in or not getting pleasure from most daily activities that you used to enjoy, and feeling this way...

What is mad cow disease and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease? Mad cow disease is a fatal disease that slowly destroys the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) in cattle. It also is known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE. People cannot get mad cow disease. But in rare cases they may get a human form...

People who have schizophrenia sometimes have to spend time in the hospital. This can be because of severe symptoms or for other reasons. You may have to go to the hospital if: You're having a psychotic episode. This means that you can't tell the...

A hallucination is a perception of something that is not really there. It can involve sight, hearing, taste, smell, or touch. For example, a person may hear voices that nobody else hears or may see something that nobody else sees. When someone you...

When someone you care about is having paranoid thoughts, it can be hard to know what to do. You might want to help but not be sure how to respond. And while every person's needs will be different, these tips can help. Learn about paranoia.