Wet Brain (Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome) is a progressive degeneration of brain matter due to chronic alcohol abuse and a Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. 1-2% of the general U.S. population suffers from wet brain. The syndrome is named after Carl Wernicke and Sergei Korsakoff. These doctors, working independent of one another, diagnosed two different stages of this condition in the late 1800s. Failure to diagnose this syndrome leads to death in 20 percent of cases, while brain damage occurs in 75 percent of cases.
Wet Brain is believed to happen in two stages of development. First, Wernicke’s encephalopathy presents itself as mental confusion, staggering, and the paralysis of eye movements. This is followed by Korsakoff’s psychosis, which is the loss of memory function in the brain. Alcoholics are often malnourished, and the reasons are two-fold. First, late-stage alcoholics typically maintain a poor diet by eating less than their body needs or by eating a diet of low-nutrient junk foods.
Secondly, chronic alcohol abuse affects your body’s ability to absorb thiamine, can deplete thiamine reserves in the liver, and can block an enzyme that helps activate the vitamin. Wet Brain is treated with thiamine and abstinence from alcohol while maintaining a nutritional diet that includes a regular intake of Vitamin B1. Over time there can be some improvements, but total recovery is very unlikely. Common Wet Brain symptoms can include:
·
Severe
memory loss
·
An
inability to form new memories
·
Confabulation,
memory of events that never occurred
·
confusion,
drowsiness and a paralysis of eye movements
·
ataxia,
a staggering or irregular gait
·
Auditory
and visual hallucinations
“A [drunken] man never tells a lie.” (Sayingspoint.com)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“What is Wet Brain and Delirium Tremens?” By
Chris Clancy
·
“What is wet brain syndrome?” By Tim Wood
·
www.inspiremalibu.com/wet-brain-wernicke-korsakoff-syndrome/
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