Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome may develop in people who abuse alcohol and other malnourished people, usually because of a deficiency of thiamin Thiamin Deficiency Thiamin deficiency (causing beriberi and other problems) is most common among people whose diet mainly consists of white rice or highly processed carbohydrates in developing countries and among... read more (vitamin B1). Rarely, this syndrome results from a head injury Overview of Head Injuries Head injuries that involve the brain are particularly concerning. Common causes of head injuries include falls, motor vehicle crashes, assaults, and mishaps during sports and recreational activities... read more (a traumatic brain injury).
Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Wernicke encephalopathy Wernicke Encephalopathy Wernicke encephalopathy is a brain disorder that causes confusion, eye problems, and loss of balance and results from thiamin deficiency. Wernicke encephalopathy is caused by a severe deficiency... read more causes loss of balance, drowsiness, a tendency to stagger, and eye movement problems in addition to confusion.
Korsakoff syndrome Korsakoff Psychosis Korsakoff psychosis is a complication of Wernicke encephalopathy and causes memory loss for recent events, confusion, and behavioral changes. (See also Drug Use and Abuse.) Korsakoff psychosis... read more may initially cause severe memory loss for recent events. Memory of more distant past events seems to be less impaired. Thus, people may be able to interact socially and converse coherently even though they cannot remember anything that happened in the preceding few days, months, or years or even in the preceding few minutes. They tend to make things up (confabulate) rather than admit that they cannot remember. Because they cannot remember things they have recently done, they may, for example, never tire of reading a favorite magazine over and over again.
Diagnosis of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Doctors suspect Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in people who have the characteristic symptoms and who have a disorder that can cause this syndrome (such as undernutrition or a thiamin deficiency), especially if they also abuse alcohol.
Tests, such as blood tests to measure blood sugar and electrolyte levels, a complete blood cell count, liver function tests, and imaging, are usually done to rule out other causes. Sometimes doctors measure the thiamin level in blood.
