Encephalopathy is defined as brain disease, damage or malfunction.
It characteristically results in an altered mental state, sometimes accompanied by such physical manifestations as tremors or lack of coordination of limb movements. Oftentimes there are changes in personality as well.
There are many, many causes for encephalopathy, and the cause is usually one of the more than 150 descriptors attached to the diagnosis. For instance, hepatic encephalopathy is damage to the brain caused by liver disease. Lyme encephalopathy is the result of advanced Lyme disease.
Diabetic encephalopathy is the result of damage to the brain caused by diabetes. It can cause symptoms that range from mild memory issues to severe impairment, including dementia, seizures and coma.