Wet Brain From Alcohol: Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome

In addition to clinical observations, doctors will run lab tests for thiamine deficiency and may order an MRI to look for noticeable changes in the brain. However, MRI tests have a low sensitivity rate of 53%, making them an imperfect diagnostic tool. Medical experts say the best treatment for living with this disease is to stay sober, eat healthily and receive the most appropriate support for their ongoing cognitive and physical needs. Alcohol inhibits the absorption of thiamine in the intestines, the primary part of the body where nutrients enter the bloodstream. An essential nutrient, vitamin B1 must be obtained by eating food containing thiamine, such as poultry, peas, brown rice, whole grains, and bread. If caught and treated early, many symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy are reversible.

Wet Brain Stage 2: Korsakoff Psychosis

However, once the condition progresses to Korsakoff psychosis, the prospects for complete recovery diminish significantly. This stage is marked by chronic and severe memory impairments and cognitive deficits that are often permanent. While some individuals may experience partial improvement with ongoing thiamine supplementation and abstinence from alcohol, the brain damage incurred at this stage is generally irreversible. Long-term management focuses on mitigating symptoms and preventing further deterioration rather than achieving full recovery. Wernicke’s encephalopathy is the initial stage and is defined by the development of neurological symptoms due to the brain suffering from lesions formed from a lack of adequate thiamine (vitamin B1).

Who is at risk for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?

Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, is important because is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and the normal function of the nervous system. It’s also a cofactor for the production of key enzymes that enable our brain to function properly. For those who’ve been diagnosed with the syndrome, the goal is improving symptoms and delaying disease progression. WKS is challenging because patients who have it often lack insight into their condition.

• Additionally, you should know the signs of alcohol abuse and get treatment and recovery support before you sustain any further damage.
• Treatment can prevent progression to Korsakoff psychosis, which is not reversible or treatable.
• This is typically a non-issue for most healthy adults (think whole grains, asparagus, kale, pork, beef, chicken, eggs and potatoes).
• It’s often caused by alcohol abuse but may be caused by other chronic conditions as well.

Impact on Quality of Life

Depending on your individual insurance plan, treatment at a specific facility may or may not be covered. It’s important that you know what is covered prior to attending a rehab. Use the free online insurance coverage checker tool below to find out if your health insurance provides coverage for addiction rehab  and other rehabilitation treatment plans for substance abuse recovery. It is important not to attempt treatment yourself and to seek help from medical professionals. A person with Wernicke encephalopathy is in a notably delicate condition and will need thiamine replacement treatments, ideally through an IV, usually requiring admission to the hospital.

• A brain MRI to show if there has been any damage to tissues in your brain might be recommended.
• MRIs may also be used to identify the lesions in the brain that may develop as a result of the disease.
• It most often happens in people with alcohol use disorder and malnutrition.
• The summary of findings is presented in Table 4, and greater detail is provided in Table S2.
• Diagnosing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, commonly known as ‘wet brain,’ is crucial for effective treatment and management of this serious condition.

Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent the condition from progressing to more severe stages. While wet brain is not something that can be cured, doctors can reverse some of the symptoms or at least slow the progression of the disorder if they can intervene quickly enough. Certain aspects of the condition can be helped with medication and treatment, mush brain while issues with memory loss are typically permanent. Early intervention in cases of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is the most effective for reversing course and saving someone’s life. People who exhibit signs of wet brain need to seek treatment for alcoholism and achieve and maintain sobriety to prevent and minimize the occurrence of permanent brain damage.

• Very few people with alcohol use disorder eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• A failure to diagnose this syndrome leads to death in 20 percent of cases, and long-term brain damage in 75 percent.
• Some people experience only a few, while others develop many of the symptoms.
• Some cases of Wernicke encephalopathy may also be brought on by extreme dieting which prevents the body from receiving the nutrients it needs to maintain healthy functioning.

Anyone concerned about symptoms indicative of wet brain needs immediate medical attention. Prompt treatment will lead to a full mental recovery for about 20%, a recovery from ataxia for about 40% and a recovery from irregular eye movement for about 60%. The reversibility of wet brain, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, largely depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed and treated. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

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Any improvement in functioning usually occurs within the first two years after the symptoms began. Life expectancy may remain normal if the person does not drink alcohol. Ongoing treatment for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome includes abstinence from alcohol, adequate nutrition, and vitamin supplementation. In order to diagnose Wernicke encephalopathy, thiamine levels in the person’s blood should be tested. This article discusses the signs of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, its prevalence, and risk factors. It also covers what diagnostic tests are used, how it’s managed, and what the life expectancy is.

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• Women and people who are younger are more likely to develop the syndrome due to other causes (aside from alcohol).
• Most people will experience long-lasting changes to their memory and cognition even with treatment and abstaining from alcohol.
• Although Wernicke’s encephalopathy is generally caused by alcoholism, other potential causes include severe malnutrition, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, and severe anorexia.

The leading cause of this deficiency is chronic alcohol misuse, which severely impairs the body’s ability to absorb and utilize thiamine. There are two forms of wet brain syndrome called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis. With Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a person will develop neurological symptoms because the brain is suffering from lesions that form from a lack of adequate thiamine. Mostly, these neurological symptoms are related to memory problems. Once the signs of the first part of the wet brain syndrome diminish, a person can develop the symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis.