Definition of Dementia due to metabolic causes:

Dementia is a loss of brain function over weeks, months, or years that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior. Similar changes that occur over hours or a day or two is called delirium or encephalopathy.

Metabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body. Dementia due to metabolic causes is a loss of brain 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 is causing the dementia.

Metabolic causes of dementia include:

• Endocrine disorders, such as Addison's disease or Cushing's disease
• Heavy metal exposure, such as to lead, arsenic, murcury, or manganese
• Repeat episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), most often seen in people with diabetes who use insulin
• Hyperparathyroidism, by causing very high levels of calcium in the blood
• Hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) or thyrotoxicosis (very high levels of thyroid hormone in the body)
• Liver cirrhosis
• Porphyria
• Nutritional disorders, such as vitamin B1 deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, pellagra, or protein-calorie malnutrition