Dementia due to metabolic causes Health Article

Definition

Dementia due to metabolic causes is a loss of mental function that can occur with diabetes, thyroid disease, and other metabolic disorders.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

How often this condition affects different ages, genders, and races varies based on the disorder that's causing the dementia.

Metabolic causes of dementia include:

• Endocrine disorders
  • Addison's disease
  • Cushing's disease
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Diabetic nephropathy
  • Insulinoma or hypoglycemia
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Thyrotoxicosis
• Metabolic disorders
  • Acid/base disorders of any type
  • Fluid electrolyte disorders of any type
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hyponatremia
  • Kidney failure with uremia
  • Liver disease
  • Porphyria
• Nutritional disorders
  • Vitamin B1 deficiency
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Pellagra
  • Protein-calorie malnutrition

Symptoms

Dementia that occurs with metabolic disorders may cause confusion and changes in intellect or reasoning. These changes may be temporary or permanent.

• Decrease in:
  • Feeling (sensation)
  • Hearing
  • Movement
  • Speech
  • Vision
• Difficulty making sense of person, place, or time
• Language difficulties
• Loss of bladder control
• Personality changes
• Slowly worsening loss of:
  • Intellectual function
  • Judgment
  • Memory

Note: The person may also have symptoms from the disorder that caused dementia.

Signs and tests

An examination of the nervous system (neurologic examination) can show different problems, depending on the cause. Abnormal reflexes may be present.

Tests may include:

• Ammonia level in the blood
• Blood chemistry, electrolytes
• Blood glucose level, glucose tolerance tests
• BUN, creatinine
• Electroencephalograph (EEG)
• Head CT scan
• Head MRI scan
• Liver function tests
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
• Mental status test
• Nutritional assessment
• Thyroid function tests
• Urinalysis
• Vitamin B12 level