Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 26 : Nicotinic Acid (Niacin)

Dementia

Delirium is the commonest severe mental disturbance in acute pellagra. Dementia is more frequently seen in the chronic cases. Milder mental disturbances consisting of irritability, change in disposition, depression, inability to concentrate and poor memory are more common in the mild cases. The symptoms of postero-lateral tract degeneration, ataxia, spasticity and the involvement of the bladder and rectal sphincters are seen in chronic cases.