What Is Encephalopathy?
The brain is a complicated organ that is susceptible to certain disorders and diseases. Some brain disorders are more serious than others. There is one disease, in particular, that changes the way the brain works and can lead to an altered mental state. It’s called encephalopathy.
Encephalopathy is often reversible, as long as the underlying cause is identified and corrected. For the best outcome, it’s important to seek treatment for the condition right away, rather than allow it to progress.
1. What Is Encephalopathy?
Encephalopathy is not a single disorder. Instead, it’s a group of disorders that affect the brain in a negative way. Encephalopathy can be described as a global alteration in all brain function aspects, including behavior, communication, orientation, memory and speech.
Many people confuse encephalopathy with encephalitis. But despite the similar-sounding names, they are two very different conditions. Encephalitis refers to swelling or inflammation in the brain. Encephalopathy refers to an altered mental state that occurs as a result of some type of health problem. Although they are different conditions, encephalitis can potentially lead to encephalopathy if left untreated.
2. What Are the Different Types of Encephalopathy?
There are several different types of encephalopathy, but they can be divided into two main categories: reversible and irreversible. Reversible types include Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, hepatic encephalopathy and metabolic encephalopathy.
Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is linked to Hashimoto’s disease, which is a thyroid condition. Hepatic encephalopathy occurs when the liver can no longer remove toxins from the blood effectively. Metabolic encephalopathy is linked to other health conditions that put stress on the brain. These include kidney failure, liver disease, heart failure and diabetes.
3. What Are the Irreversible Types of Encephalopathy?
Fortunately, most types of encephalopathy are reversible. However, there are some that can cause permanent brain damage. Irreversible types of encephalopathy include hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen for so long that it leads to brain damage. This can happen after a drug overdose, near-drowning incident, cardiac arrest or carbon monoxide poisoning. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy occurs after repeated head injuries that cause damage to the brain. It has been linked to football, boxing and other high-impact sports.
4. What Are the Symptoms of Encephalopathy?
Symptoms of encephalopathy may seem random and unrelated to each other, but they can all be traced to problems with brain function. Specific symptoms vary based on the cause and type of encephalopathy, but some of the most common include confusion, personality changes, memory loss and difficulty focusing or thinking clearly. Some people also experience extreme sleepiness, uncontrollable eye movements, trouble speaking and tremors or seizures.
It’s important to call a doctor if you notice any of these symptoms in someone you love or in yourself. If symptoms are severe, go to the emergency room right away. Some encephalopathies can be life-threatening if they are not treated as quickly as possible.
5. What Causes Encephalopathy?
Encephalopathy often arises as a complication of some other problem. As such, the origins of encephalopathy can be quite varied. Causes may include brain tumors, metabolic diseases, liver failure, lack of oxygen to the brain, infectious bacteria or parasites, and toxic chemicals. Even poor nutrition can lead to encephalopathy.
While there are many potential causes of encephalopathy, the most common causes are liver damage, kidney failure, brain trauma and infection by herpes, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C or Neisseria meningitides.
6. What Are the Risk Factors?
It’s possible for anyone to develop encephalopathy. However, some peoples’ genetics or lifestyle choices put them at higher risk for developing the condition. A few of the common risk factors associated with encephalopathy include high-impact sports, exposure to toxic chemicals, vitamin B-1 deficiency, high blood pressure, genetics, Prion diseases (including kuru, fatal familial insomnia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and chronic wasting disease).
While it’s not possible to avoid risk factors associated with your genetics, it may be possible to lower your risk of encephalopathy by making certain lifestyle changes, such as staying away from high-impact sports, getting adequate nutrition and managing your blood pressure.
7. How Is Encephalopathy Diagnosed?
If you think you or someone you love may have encephalopathy, visit your doctor as soon as possible. He or she will most likely ask you detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history. Your physician may then perform a medical examination to check for symptoms of brain disease.
If encephalopathy is suspected, your doctor may use a variety of methods to diagnose it. Diagnostic procedures may include a CT or MRI scan to detect abnormalities in the brain or blood tests to look for underlying bacteria, toxins or diseases. Your doctor may also perform a spinal tap to inspect a sample of your spinal fluid or take an electroencephalogram to measure your brain’s electrical activity.
8. What Treatment Options Are Available?
Treatment for encephalopathy may minimize or even reverse your symptoms. The type of treatment your doctor recommends for your case depends on a variety of factors, including your overall health, the underlying cause of your condition and its severity. Irreversible types of encephalopathy cannot be cured by any type of known treatment.
Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking one or more medications to treat your condition. He or she might also recommend certain medications that can reduce ammonia levels and stop seizures. Other treatment options may include dialysis or organ transplant if your condition is caused by kidney or liver problems. You may also be able to improve your condition by changing the foods you eat or supplementing with certain nutrients.
9. Is Encephalopathy Preventable?
Encephalopathy can be life-changing and is associated with fatal disease in some cases. Some types of encephalopathy are not preventable. However, there may be things you can do to lower your risk of developing a preventable form of the condition.
Since preventable encephalopathy usually develops as a result of some underlying health condition, it’s important to take care of your physical health as much as possible. You can do this by eating a healthy diet, avoiding too much alcohol, visiting your doctor for regular checkups and minimizing your exposure to toxic substances such as drugs or chemicals.
10. What Is the Long-Term Outlook for Someone with Encephalopathy?
Your long-term outlook largely depends on the type of encephalopathy you have, and whether it’s reversible or not. If your condition is caused by toxins, lack of oxygen to the brain, head injuries or cardiac arrest, your mental state may never return to the way it used to be.
If your condition is the reversible type and is caused by metabolic conditions, infections, organ failure or other common causes, it should go away once the underlying cause is treated. Once you fix the primary problem, you may be able to regain your full mental abilities.
