Artificial intelligence and geriatric medicine: New possibilities and consequences.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) research attempts to build systems that approximate human intelligence through computer software.1 They can accept novel input and output meaningful information. Applications of AI to medicine include simulation of molecular dynamics, drug discovery and treatment selection for patients.1 Recently a text chat program called ChatGPT has been made available to the public.2 It has knowledge of the world and events till 2021 and falls under the domain of generative AI. These are programs that can generate novel paragraphs and visuals to text prompts. Users can ask questions via a chat format and obtain answers to their queries. In this article, the usage of ChatGPT in the field of Geriatric Medicine is explored. Antipsychotic medications, such as haloperidol and olanzapine, are often used to manage symptoms of delirium, such as agitation or psychosis. However, the use of antipsychotics in delirium is not without risks and should be carefully considered. One review of the literature on the use of antipsychotics in delirium found that while these medications may be effective in reducing symptoms of delirium, they may also have potential adverse effects such as sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms (e.g., tremor, rigidity, and akathisia), and an increased risk of falls and fractures (Wilder-Smith et al., 2010). The authors of the review concluded that the use of antipsychotics in delirium should be limited to cases where the benefits outweigh the potential risks, and that nonpharmacological interventions should be used as the first line of treatment whenever possible. Another review of the literature on the use of antipsychotics in delirium found that haloperidol was more effective at reducing symptoms of delirium than placebo, but that there was limited evidence on the effectiveness of other antipsychotics (Fong et al., 2013). The authors of the review also noted that the use of antipsychotics was associated with an increased risk of adverse effects, and that the decision to use these medications should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the patient's specific needs and circumstances (Inouye et al., 2014). It is important to note that the use of antipsychotics in delirium should be individualized and carefully monitored, and that other nonpharmacological interventions should be considered as the first line of treatment whenever possible.