Korsakoff syndrome is one of the potential outcomes of alcoholism. When a person uses alcohol on a consistent basis over a long period of time, they are at risk of developing this disease.
What Is Korsakoff’s?
More formally known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, this syndrome is a type of brain disorder that affects memory and is caused by vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. Korsakoff syndrome is most commonly caused by alcohol use disorder but can also affect anyone deficient in B1, including those with digestive disorders that limit nutrient absorption, those with a chronically poor diet, those with chronic infection, and others.
What Does This Deficiency Do?
The first development, for many, is Wernicke encephalopathy, which causes damage to the lower area of the brain and results in confusion, stumbling, poor coordination, and abnormal eye movements. Left untreated, these symptoms will fade, and learning and memory problems will emerge that are sometimes mistaken for Alzheimer’s symptoms. People with Korsakoff syndrome may experience:
- Inability to form new memories
- Loss of memory, in some cases severe
- Making up stories to fill in gaps in memory
- Hallucinations, both visual and auditory
How Do You Know If Your Loved One Has Korsakoff Syndrome?
The symptoms listed above are a good indication that something is wrong. However, a doctor will need to diagnose this condition. They will do so based on the presence of those symptoms, but also on things such as:
- Lower than normal body temperature
- Lower than normal blood pressure
- Abnormal reflexes
- Muscle atrophy
- Difficulty with walking
It is also common for someone with Korsakoff syndrome to look as though they are poorly nourished. This may lead a doctor to perform several tests to better understand their B1 levels, as well as their serum albumin levels and red blood cell activity. Many people will have high liver enzyme levels as well.
Doctors will also screen a person for other conditions known to cause Vitamin B1 deficiencies such as cancers, HIV/AIDs, long-term dialysis, heart failure, and very high thyroid levels.
What Can Be Done to Help Someone with This Condition?
There is no cure for Korsakoff syndrome. However, the sooner someone receives treatment for it, the less likely the condition is to advance quickly. The goal of treatment is to both minimize the presence of symptoms and to prevent worsening. In some cases, individuals need to stay in a hospital setting for treatment.
It’s not possible to “fix” this condition by supplementing vitamin B1 for those with alcohol use disorder. Rather, doctors will need to provide an injection of Vitamin B1 into the body at the right rate and under controlled conditions to ensure no adverse reactions occur. This can help with confusion and delirium. It can help to minimize rapid eye movement and muscle coordination, but it doesn’t restore memory loss. It also cannot reverse brain damage.
How to Prevent Korsakoff Syndrome
If you fear your loved one is at risk for the development of Korsakoff syndrome, act quickly. The most important first step is to detox from alcohol use and to enter alcohol use disorder treatment. This can prevent further brain function, nerve damage, and memory loss from occurring. It is also important to have a nutrient-rich diet.
If a person with Korsakoff syndrome continues to use alcohol, the disease will progress. For some, it takes a longer time, but for others it can be rapidly life-threatening, creating the risk for falling unconscious and into a coma at any time.
If you believe your loved one is suffering from this condition or that you have some of the symptoms of it, start by reaching out to our team. Allow us to help you with the alcohol detox process and to ensure you are getting the nutritional balance you need to stop the progression of Korsakoff syndrome.
