Wet Brain Syndrome: Symptoms, Stages, & Essential Facts

It is rare for the symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome to completely resolve. In some cases, identifying wet brain in alcoholics can present a challenge, as some symptoms can be confused with symptoms of intoxication, withdrawal or an accident. To rule out other causes of symptoms, like a stroke, doctors often conduct imaging and additional testing. The thiamine supplements can improve certain symptoms, like delirium and confusion. However, it will not improve symptoms related to memory loss or cognitive impairment.

• Its causes are unknown and likely multifactorial, but it is likely in part due to a vitamin B1, or thiamine, deficiency.
• If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, early intervention is the best way to prevent the onset of wet brain.
• Alcoholics, in particular, should familiarize themselves with this disease.
• Research has shown that people who are hospitalized for alcohol misuse die 24 to 28 years sooner compared to people in the general population.
• In later stages of the cognitive decline, they will experience the symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome, which are by definition considered to be permanent, irreversible changes that respond poorly even to thiamine supplementation.

Early intervention during this stage can help to reverse those symptoms. If the diagnosis is made in time and treatment is administered, it’s even possible to completely resolve early symptoms. But, if left untreated, Wernicke encephalopathy can progress to the second stage.

Stages of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

During alcohol rehab, one of the most common services offered is medically assisted detoxification. The two distinct, though overlapping disorders each come with particularly serious health symptoms. If left undiagnosed or untreated, the condition can lead to irreversible, lifelong damage and even death. Since early detection and treatment can help with many aspects of the disease, many doctors urge alcoholics to seek treatment immediately.

Decreases in the activities of PDH
and α–KGDH can result in reduced ATP synthesis, which in turn can
contribute to cell damage and even cell death. The citric acid cycle and α–KGDH
play a role in maintaining the levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate, gamma–aminobutyric
acid (GABA), and aspartate, as well as in protein synthesis. Thus, the thiamine–using
enzymes play numerous vital roles in the functioning of cells, and particularly
of neurons. Some of the symptoms of wet brain syndrome are reversible, assuming the condition is diagnosed early. If left untreated, though, wet brain can cause ongoing problems with muscle coordination, irreversible confusion, and distressing hallucinations.

Helping a Loved One With Wet Brain

If you’re struggling with an alcohol addiction, don’t let it take over your life. Don’t let the situation worsen to the point where you develop wet brain syndrome. You might sustain permanent brain damage if you don’t take action soon.

There are many misconceptions about alcoholism that make it sound like an alcoholic is an easy person to spot, however, many alcoholics function effectively and lead relatively normal lives. Normal mental activity can become harder and harder for the individual to maintain as Wernicke’s syndrome progresses. It can potentially become so severe, in fact, that it progresses into coma-like states and even death. This is one reason why the early signs of this disorder should not be ignored. 7.4% of people 12 years and older have tried ecstasy at least once in their lifetime.

How Does Drinking Large Amounts of Alcohol Cause Thiamine Deficiency?

Early tests typically include an eye exam to analyze a patient’s eye movements and pupil alignment, and a physical test to study the patient’s gait, reflexes, and muscle coordination. Harmony Place is an affordable luxury rehabilitation experience, and we want people looking for more information about the dangers of alcoholism to know of the treatments and services we provide. The various therapies available at Harmony Place include nutritional therapy, massage, acupuncture, and a variety of inpatient and outpatient treatment options. It’s vital for people struggling with alcoholism to understand the possible impact of contracting Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and to know what to expect from treatment.

NADPH provides hydrogen atoms for chemical reactions that result in the production
of steroids, fatty acids, amino acids, certain neurotransmitters, and other
molecules. In addition, NADPH plays an important role in the synthesis of glutathione,
a compound that is essential in the body’s defense against oxidative stress. To function properly, all cells require certain levels of NADPH and ribose–5–phosphate,
and the biochemical reaction mediated by transketolase is crucial for maintaining
the appropriate levels of both molecules. Alcohol abuse is the main cause of thiamine deficiency in the United States. This often occurs through malabsorption and poor nutrition, both commonplace among those who have been drinking alcohol heavily and long-term.

There are enzymes in the brain that need thiamine, including several critical neurotransmitters. When someone doesn’t get enough thiamine over a long period of time, https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-is-my-vision-blurry-after-drinking-alcohol/ they will develop brain damage or wet brain. The human body stores thiamine in the liver and this presents additional problems for those with chronic alcoholism.

• It’s also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), named after German neurologist Carl Wernicke and neuropsychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff.
• Alcohol consumption can
  damage the brain through numerous mechanisms, many of which are discussed in
  the articles in this issue of Alcohol Research & Health.
• As mentioned
  earlier, once thiamine is imported into the cells, it is first converted into
  ThDP by the addition of two phosphate groups.
• Individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery or surgery in the GI region are at heightened risk of wet brain.
• A thiamine deficiency occurs frequently among individuals with poor nutrition.

People with Korsakoff’s psychosis experience memory loss and have difficulty forming new memories. You might find that they can narrate an ordeal to you in detail an hour after it happens but cannot remember it a few days later. The disorder is broken down into two stages called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. Liver enzymes may be high in people with a history of long-term alcohol abuse. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is incurable, but it is manageable in some cases with early detection and treatment.

To minimize brain damage and prevent death, immediate medical treatment is needed. While Wernicke encephalopathy does not always lead to the second stage of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, about 80 to 90 percent of alcoholics who experience this stage will develop Korsakoff syndrome. It’s is a chronic condition that can develop if Wernicke encephalopathy is not treated promptly. Treatment for the condition often involves thiamine replacements as well as ensuring the patient is getting proper nutrition in their diet and hydrating. For the first 3 to 7 days, thiamine may be introduced intravenously or intramuscularly.

• Originally from the East Coast, Dr. Deena has worked running treatment centers, worked as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals as well as school settings and currently has a thriving private practice in the LA area.
• Once someone has been diagnosed with end-stage alcoholism, Korsakoff’s syndrome dementia impacts the brain, the CNS (central nervous system), and the cardiovascular system.
• If you or a loved one experience any of the early symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy, it is crucial to seek treatment before the condition progresses.
• The earlier you seek help, the better your chances are of being able to fully recover.
• This causes the formation of lesions, and the brain will basically become damaged to the point where it bleeds.

Medical management, treatment for comorbid conditions, individual, group and family counselling services are available to clients. We recognize that alcohol use disorders are complex and getting sober is just the first step in the recovery process. Liberty Ranch helps clients build the behavioral and emotional tools needed to sustain long-term sobriety. Studies show mush brain that anywhere from 30% to 80% of those struggling with alcoholism symptoms have a thiamine deficiency. To prevent wet brain, those struggling with alcoholism should consider taking thiamine supplements. If untreated, wet brain can also lead to permanent brain damage that cannot be reversed, even if alcohol use is stopped and thiamine levels are fully replaced.