Types and Causes of Encephalopathy
- Robert Bosscha
- Oct 6
- 2 min read
It seems logical that one of the early blogs I create provides some explanation of encephalopathy, a term I had never heard until I became a patient.
"Encephalopathy" means damage or disease that affects the brain. (Encephalopathy: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment). Therefore, by definition, all encephalopathies have a common factor - brain damage or disease.
According to ChatGPT, there are up to 50 different types of encephalopathy. What differentiates the various encephalopathies is the cause of the brain damage or disease. Here are a few examples:
Anoxic/hypoxic encephalopathy, the result of oxygen deprivation, is a dire situation often arising from conditions like cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the aftermath of head injuries or repeated blows to the head.
Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, an autoimmune adversary, wages war on the brain due to a misguided attack on the thyroid gland.
Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by liver dysfunction. It’s like a warning bell signalling trouble with toxin removal, often accompanying advanced liver conditions such as cirrhosis.
Hypercalcemic encephalopathy, caused by elevated calcium levels wreaking havoc on the body, possibly due to the unwelcome presence of cancer.
Infectious encephalopathy occurs when viruses or bacteria cause mayhem in the brain, as in viral encephalitis.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)is a temporary swelling of the brain’s white matter that is often triggered by conditions like hypertension or autoimmune disorders.
Toxic-metabolic encephalopathy (TME) results from different metabolic disturbances/imbalances, including medications, illicit drugs, kidney failure, and other changes to the body’s chemical makeup.
Uremic encephalopathy occurs when underlying kidney damage doesn’t allow for efficient elimination of waste from the body.
Wernicke encephalopathy is a thiamine deficiency often associated with alcohol misuse, malnutrition, prolonged fasting, or excessive vomiting.
Interested in a little more information? Check out these resources:
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