Major/Mild Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition

Medical conditions can cause major or mild neurocognitive disorders.

Criterion A

The criteria are met for major or mild neurocognitive disorder.

Criterion B

There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the neurocognitive disorder is the pathophysiological consequence of another medical condition.

Criterion C

The cognitive deficits are not better explained by another mental disorder or another specific neurocognitive disorder (e.g. - Alzheimer’s disease, HIV infection).

The temporal association between the onset or exacerbation of the medical condition and the development of the cognitive deficit suggests that the neurocognitive disorder was caused by the medical condition. Medical conditions include:

  • Structural lesions (e.g. - primary or secondary brain tumors, subdural hematoma, slowly progressive or normal-pressure hydrocephalus)
  • Hypoxia related to hypoperfusion from heart failure
  • Endocrine conditions (e.g. - hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia)
  • Nutritional conditions (e.g. - deficiencies of vitamin B12 [cobalamin], vitamine B1 [thiamine], or vitamin B3 [niacin])
  • Infectious (e.g. - neurosyphilis, cryptococcosis)
  • Immune disorders (e.g. - temporal arteritis, systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Hepatic or renal failure, metabolic conditions (e.g. - Kufs' disease, adrenoleukodystrophy, metachromatic leukodystrophy, other storage diseases of adulthood and childhood)
  • Neurological conditions (e.g. - epilepsy, multiple sclerosis)
  • Unusual causes of central nervous system injury (e.g. - electrical shock or intracranial radiation)