Metabolic encephalopathy?

enricor

My father`s diagnosis states metabolic encephalopathy - worsening dementia. I googled it, explanations are very vague. He spent 2 weeks in the hospital and then transferred to a rehab center and after just 10 days is eating on his own, can hold a conversation, able to stand and take a few steps. He is on his cell phone calling friends & family between his physical therapy and his meals. I am relieved to see him making progress, but wary he might regress once he leaves the rehab center. Has anyone reading this experienced same?

M1

Welcome to the forum. Metabolic encephalopathy is indeed a very vague term that doesn't tell you a whole lot, basically means "I can't think straight because I'm sick.". Glad he's improving, even if temporary. The question always is what was his baseline before hospitalization, and will he get back to that baseline. Good luck-

Marta

Metabolic encephalopathy most commonly occurs when people are severely ill, even if they do not have dementia. Something as simple as dehydration or electrolyte imbalance can cause this. More chronically, it may be a result of kidney or liver insufficiency.  Blood sugar elevations with, or without, ketoacidosis, as well as septicemia are another common cause. Essentially, the metabolic milieu is suboptimal for cerebral functioning.  Once the acute illness has resolved, cognition can improve substantially; to the extent that changes were due to metabolic encephalopathy. In someone with underlying dementia there may not be a return to their baseline before the acute illness, due to the lack of cerebral reserve.