Wernicke - Korsakoff Syndrome
causes, presentation, prevention and management
Keywords:
wernicke’s syndrome, korsakoff syndrome, wenicke-korsakoff syndrome, alcohol and amnesia, alcohol and cognition, thiamine deficiency, vitamin B1 deficiency, neuropsychiatric disorder, alcohol-related brain damage, chronic alcoholism, confabulationAbstract
Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption affects the body in many ways. Importantly, it leads to a deficiency of Vitamin B1, also known as Thiamine. This vitamin deficiency occurs because alcoholics often neglect to eat a healthy diet. As a result, the brain and heart are severely affected. The sudden and severe brain damage caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency is called Acute Wernicke Syndrome. A triad of confusion, ophthalmoplegia and ataxia is often the clinical presentation. When untreated, it proceeds to become a permanent cognitive impairment called Korsakoff’s Syndrome. This article discusses in detail the causes of Wernicke’s Korsakoff syndrome, its clinical presentation as a case study and research based evidence on the prevention and management of the same.
