Encephalopathies represent a group of pathologies, which are distinguished by a structural and functional alteration of the brain.
The various types of encephalopathy differ from each other due to the triggering causes - to which they usually owe their names - for the symptoms, for the complications, for the treatment and for the prognosis.
Congenital or acquired, an encephalopathy can last a lifetime ( permanent encephalopathy ) or may have a more or less important margin of healing ( temporary encephalopathy ).
A form of permanent encephalopathy, caused by the presence of toxins in the brain, is the so-called toxic encephalopathy .
This particular neurological disease usually arises after chronic exposure to toxic substances, capable, thanks to their lipophilic properties, of crossing the blood-brain barrier and reaching the brain.
Among the toxic substances responsible for toxic encephalopathy, we point out some products for cleaning the premises, some building materials, pesticides, some deodorants and even some perfumes . In these preparations, in fact, there may be metals in harmful form and dangerous doses of ethanol .
There are two ways in which these substances can reach the brain: through inhalation (this is the case, for example, with deodorants) or through application (this may be the case, for example, with perfumes).
EXPOSURE CHARACTERS
For the brain to undergo permanent alterations, exposure must be prolonged and to a certain degree .Short exposure, in fact, is usually not enough for toxins to create serious damage, as the brain itself has detoxification systems.
CONSEQUENCES OF EXPOSURE
If in large quantities, toxic substances can irreparably damage the main structures of the brain (ie brain, cerebellum, diencephalon and medulla oblongata) and spinal cord.
All this involves, first of all, an alteration of the mental state and, subsequently, more and more frequent memory losses, gradual vision problems, myoclonus (ie involuntary muscle tics), concentration difficulties, attacks of epilepsy, depression, personality changes and state of irritability.
