Hapca S, et al. - In this prospective cohort study, researchers investigated mortality in older people with dementia, delirium, and unspecified cognitive impairment during acute hospital admission. Study participants were 6,724 people aged ≥65 years with a structured cognitive assessment on acute admission. In older people with cognitive spectrum disorder (CSD) [defined as delirium alone, known dementia alone, delirium superimposed on known dementia, or unspecified cognitive impairment], mortality post-admission was high. In those with delirium, the immediate risk was highest, while dementia or unspecified cognitive impairment was related to a medium to long-term risk. The study findings suggested that people without dementia who develop delirium were more seriously ill than people with pre-existing brain pathology (dementia).