BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuDementia due to metabolic causesChronic brain - metabolic; Mild cognitive - metabolic; MCI - metabolic; Neurocognitive disorder - metabolicDementia is loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Dementia may also be referred to as major neurocognitive disorder.DementiaDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Neurocognitive disorderNeurocognitive disorder is a general term that describes decreased mental function due to a medical disease other than a psychiatric illness. Neuroco...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dementia due to metabolic causes is a loss of brain function that can occur with abnormal chemical processes in the body. With some of these disorders, if treated early, brain dysfunction can be reversed. Left untreated, permanent brain damage, such as dementia, can occur.MetabolicMetabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy, such as:BreathingCirculating bloodControlling bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Possible metabolic causes of dementia include:Hormonal disorders, such as Addison disease, Cushing disease Addison diseaseAddison disease is a disorder that causes the adrenal glands to not produce enough hormones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cushing diseaseCushing disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The pituitary gland is an organ of...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heavy metal exposure, such as to lead, arsenic, mercury, or manganese Repeat episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), most often seen in people with diabetes who use insulin HypoglycemiaLow blood sugar is a condition that occurs when the body's blood sugar (glucose) decreases and is too low. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL (3. 9 mmol/L) i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High level of calcium in the blood, such as due to hyperparathyroidism HyperparathyroidismHyperparathyroidism is a disorder in which 1 or more of the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low level of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or high level of thyroid hormone (thyrotoxicosis) in the body HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ThyrotoxicosisHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver cirrhosis Liver cirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nutritional disorders, such as vitamin B1 deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, pellagra, or protein-calorie malnutrition Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PellagraPellagra is a disease that occurs when a person does not get enough niacin (one of the B complex vitamins) or tryptophan (an amino acid).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MalnutritionMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Porphyria PorphyriaPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Poisons, such as methanol Severe alcohol use Wilson disease Wilson diseaseWilson disease is an inherited disorder in which there is too much copper in the body's tissues. The excess copper damages the liver and nervous sys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Disorders of the mitochondria (energy-producing parts of cells) Rapid changes in sodium level Symptoms Metabolic disorders may cause confusion and changes in thinking or reasoning. These changes may be short-term or lasting. Dementia occurs when the symptoms are not reversible. Symptoms can be different for everyone. They depend on the health condition causing the dementia.ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The early symptoms of dementia can include:Difficulty with tasks that take some thought but used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines Getting lost on familiar routes Language problems, such as trouble with names of familiar objects Losing interest in things previously enjoyed, flat mood Misplacing items Personality changes and loss of social skills, which can lead to inappropriate behaviors Mood changes that can cause periods of aggression and anxiety Poor performance at work resulting in demotion or loss of jobAs the dementia gets worse, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with the ability to take care of yourself:Changing sleep patterns, often waking up at night Forgetting details about current events, forgetting events in one's life history Having difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, or driving Having hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and behaving violently More difficulty reading or writing Poor judgment and losing the ability to recognize danger Using the wrong word, not pronouncing words correctly, speaking in confusing sentences Withdrawing from social contactThe person may also have symptoms from the disorder that caused dementia. Exams and Tests Depending on the cause, a nervous system (neurologic) examination is done to identify the problems.Tests to diagnose a medical condition causing the dementia may include:Ammonia level in the blood Blood chemistry, electrolytes Blood chemistryA comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood glucose level Blood glucose levelA blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BUN, creatinine to check kidney function BUNBUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nutritional assessment Thyroid function tests Thyroid function testsThyroid function tests are used to check whether your thyroid is working normally. The most common thyroid function tests are:Free T4 (the main thyro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinalysis UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vitamin B12 levelVitamin B12 levelThe vitamin B12 level is a blood test that measures how much vitamin B12 is in your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article To rule out certain brain disorders, an EEG (electroencephalogram), head CT scan, or head MRI scan is usually done.EEGAn electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Head CT scanA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Head MRI scanA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The aim of treatment is to manage and correct the underlying disorder and control symptoms. With some metabolic disorders, treatment may stop or even reverse the dementia symptoms.Medicines used to treat Alzheimer disease have not been shown to work for these types of disorders. Sometimes, these drugs are used anyway, when other treatments fail to control the underlying problems.Alzheimer diseaseDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Plans should also be made for home care for people with dementia. Outlook (Prognosis) Outcome varies, depending on the cause of the dementia and the amount of damage to the brain. Possible Complications Complications may include the following:Loss of ability to function or care for self Loss of ability to interact Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections PneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary tract infectionsA urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of the urinary tract. The infection can occur at different points in the urinary tract, including...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pressure sores Pressure soresA pressure sore is an area of the skin that breaks down when something keeps rubbing or pressing against the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms of the underlying problem (such as loss of sensation due to a nerve injury from vitamin B12 deficiency) When to Contact a Medical Professional Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms get worse or continue. Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if there is a sudden change in mental status or a life-threatening emergency. Prevention Treating the underlying cause may reduce the risk for metabolic dementia.Open ReferencesReferencesBudson AE, Solomon PR. Other disorders that cause memory loss or dementia. In: Budson AE, Solomon PR, eds. Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease, and Dementia. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.Knopman DS. Cognitive impairment and dementia. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 374.Peterson R, Graff-Radford J. Alzheimer disease and other dementias. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 95.AllVideoImagesTogBrain - illustration The major areas of the brain have one or more specific functions.BrainillustrationBrain and nervous system - illustration The nervous system controls the many complicated and interconnected functions of the body and mind. Motor, sensory cognitive and autonomic function are all coordinated and driven by the brain and nerves. As people age, nerve cells deteriorated in number and facility, causing some lessening in function.Brain and nervous systemillustrationBrain - illustration The major areas of the brain have one or more specific functions.BrainillustrationBrain and nervous system - illustration The nervous system controls the many complicated and interconnected functions of the body and mind. Motor, sensory cognitive and autonomic function are all coordinated and driven by the brain and nerves. As people age, nerve cells deteriorated in number and facility, causing some lessening in function.Brain and nervous systemillustrationA Closer Look Alzheimer disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Alzheimer disease(Alt. Medicine)Stroke(Alt. Medicine)Omega-3 fatty acids(Alt. Medicine)Atherosclerosis(Alt. Medicine)Stroke - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth)Depression - InDepth(In-Depth)Cholesterol - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for Dementia due to metabolic causes Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collectionVitamin B12 levelRelated Information Metabolism(Special Topic)Dementia(Condition)Confusion(Symptoms)Endocrine glands(Special Topic)Addison disease(Condition)Cushing disease(Condition)Diabetes and kidney disease(Condition)Diabetic ketoacidosis(Condition)Insulinoma(Condition)Low blood sugar(Condition)Alzheimer disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth)Vitamins and Phytonutrients - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/23/2022 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Dementia due to metabolic causesChronic brain - metabolic; Mild cognitive - metabolic; MCI - metabolic; Neurocognitive disorder - metabolicDementia is loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Dementia may also be referred to as major neurocognitive disorder.DementiaDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Neurocognitive disorderNeurocognitive disorder is a general term that describes decreased mental function due to a medical disease other than a psychiatric illness. Neuroco...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dementia due to metabolic causes is a loss of brain function that can occur with abnormal chemical processes in the body. With some of these disorders, if treated early, brain dysfunction can be reversed. Left untreated, permanent brain damage, such as dementia, can occur.MetabolicMetabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy, such as:BreathingCirculating bloodControlling bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Possible metabolic causes of dementia include:Hormonal disorders, such as Addison disease, Cushing disease Addison diseaseAddison disease is a disorder that causes the adrenal glands to not produce enough hormones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cushing diseaseCushing disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The pituitary gland is an organ of...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heavy metal exposure, such as to lead, arsenic, mercury, or manganese Repeat episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), most often seen in people with diabetes who use insulin HypoglycemiaLow blood sugar is a condition that occurs when the body's blood sugar (glucose) decreases and is too low. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL (3. 9 mmol/L) i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High level of calcium in the blood, such as due to hyperparathyroidism HyperparathyroidismHyperparathyroidism is a disorder in which 1 or more of the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low level of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or high level of thyroid hormone (thyrotoxicosis) in the body HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ThyrotoxicosisHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver cirrhosis Liver cirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nutritional disorders, such as vitamin B1 deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, pellagra, or protein-calorie malnutrition Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PellagraPellagra is a disease that occurs when a person does not get enough niacin (one of the B complex vitamins) or tryptophan (an amino acid).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MalnutritionMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Porphyria PorphyriaPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Poisons, such as methanol Severe alcohol use Wilson disease Wilson diseaseWilson disease is an inherited disorder in which there is too much copper in the body's tissues. The excess copper damages the liver and nervous sys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Disorders of the mitochondria (energy-producing parts of cells) Rapid changes in sodium level Symptoms Metabolic disorders may cause confusion and changes in thinking or reasoning. These changes may be short-term or lasting. Dementia occurs when the symptoms are not reversible. Symptoms can be different for everyone. They depend on the health condition causing the dementia.ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The early symptoms of dementia can include:Difficulty with tasks that take some thought but used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines Getting lost on familiar routes Language problems, such as trouble with names of familiar objects Losing interest in things previously enjoyed, flat mood Misplacing items Personality changes and loss of social skills, which can lead to inappropriate behaviors Mood changes that can cause periods of aggression and anxiety Poor performance at work resulting in demotion or loss of jobAs the dementia gets worse, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with the ability to take care of yourself:Changing sleep patterns, often waking up at night Forgetting details about current events, forgetting events in one's life history Having difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, or driving Having hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and behaving violently More difficulty reading or writing Poor judgment and losing the ability to recognize danger Using the wrong word, not pronouncing words correctly, speaking in confusing sentences Withdrawing from social contactThe person may also have symptoms from the disorder that caused dementia. Exams and Tests Depending on the cause, a nervous system (neurologic) examination is done to identify the problems.Tests to diagnose a medical condition causing the dementia may include:Ammonia level in the blood Blood chemistry, electrolytes Blood chemistryA comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood glucose level Blood glucose levelA blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BUN, creatinine to check kidney function BUNBUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nutritional assessment Thyroid function tests Thyroid function testsThyroid function tests are used to check whether your thyroid is working normally. The most common thyroid function tests are:Free T4 (the main thyro...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinalysis UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vitamin B12 levelVitamin B12 levelThe vitamin B12 level is a blood test that measures how much vitamin B12 is in your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article To rule out certain brain disorders, an EEG (electroencephalogram), head CT scan, or head MRI scan is usually done.EEGAn electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Head CT scanA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Head MRI scanA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The aim of treatment is to manage and correct the underlying disorder and control symptoms. With some metabolic disorders, treatment may stop or even reverse the dementia symptoms.Medicines used to treat Alzheimer disease have not been shown to work for these types of disorders. Sometimes, these drugs are used anyway, when other treatments fail to control the underlying problems.Alzheimer diseaseDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Plans should also be made for home care for people with dementia. Outlook (Prognosis) Outcome varies, depending on the cause of the dementia and the amount of damage to the brain. Possible Complications Complications may include the following:Loss of ability to function or care for self Loss of ability to interact Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections PneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary tract infectionsA urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of the urinary tract. The infection can occur at different points in the urinary tract, including...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pressure sores Pressure soresA pressure sore is an area of the skin that breaks down when something keeps rubbing or pressing against the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms of the underlying problem (such as loss of sensation due to a nerve injury from vitamin B12 deficiency) When to Contact a Medical Professional Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms get worse or continue. Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if there is a sudden change in mental status or a life-threatening emergency. Prevention Treating the underlying cause may reduce the risk for metabolic dementia.Open ReferencesReferencesBudson AE, Solomon PR. Other disorders that cause memory loss or dementia. In: Budson AE, Solomon PR, eds. Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease, and Dementia. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.Knopman DS. Cognitive impairment and dementia. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 374.Peterson R, Graff-Radford J. Alzheimer disease and other dementias. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 95.