Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is considered a neurological disorder that has a low prevalence rate of about 0.4 to 2.8 percent within reported autopsies. WKS disorder is as a result of B vitamin thiamine deficiency. The acute form of the disorder is Wernicke’s encephalopathy and the chronic form is Korsakoff’s psychosis. In the body, thiamine helps metabolize glucose needed to produce energy for an individual’s brain. If there is an absence of thiamine, it can cause the brain to have an inadequate supply of energy, especially the hypothalamus region that regulates body temperature, appetite, growth, and emotional response.
Hypothalamus also helps control the functions of pituitary including hormones and metabolism. It also controls the functions of mammillary bodies. The Wernicke-korsakoff syndrome is linked to chronic alcoholism though there are other causes such as malnutrition, chronic infections, and AIDS. People with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome who seek treatment and recover from the disorder are able to have a normal life expectancy, but only if they abstain from the use of alcohol.
Causes
It is not clearly known how Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome causes damage to the brain, but researchers have identified that having a severe deficiency of thiamine in the body is able to disrupt various biochemicals that are responsible for conveying signals among cells in brain and storage or retrieval of memories. When the disruptions occur, they damage brain cells causing widespread microscopic bleeding as well as scar tissue.
The main cause is misuse of alcohol but scientists don’t yet understand why severe deficiency of thiamine is associated with heavy drinking among certain alcoholic people, while some other individuals have effects of alcohol on their stomach, liver, intestines, heart, and other body parts and systems. Certain genetic variations may however increase an individual’s susceptibility to having Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The disorder is also linked to poor nutrition. Other possible causes of the disorder are:
- Uncontrolled vomiting
- Weight loss surgery
- Starvation
- Fasting
- Overly stringent dieting
- Anorexia
- Kidney dialysis
- AIDS
- Chronic infections
- Cancer that spreads to the entire body
Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
People with WKS disorder may have permanent or long-lasting symptoms, but it is important that they are distinguished from alcohol withdrawal and acute effects arising from alcohol consumption. A person with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome may have symptoms like:
- Mental confusion
- Impaired short-term memory
- Amnesia- having a permanent gap in an individual’s memory
- Impaired ability to learn or get new information or learn new tasks
- Individual appears inattentive
- Some people experience agitation
- Confabulating or making up or inventing information so as to compensate for poor memory
- Ataxia- referring to weakness in limbs, unsteady gait, or lack of coordination of muscles
- Rapid, tremor-like movements of the eyes
- Slow walking
- Diminished fine motor function or movements of the fingers and hand
- Diminished sense of smell
- Coma
Diagnosis and Treatment of WKS
For the treatment to be successful, the disorder has to be diagnosed early and treated properly. Often, there is s of the disorder. In the acute stage, having a physical examination can identify changes in the skin appearance and presence of red, beefy tongue. A patient may require tests for blood count, liver function, and electrolytes. An MRI taken during the chronic phase may indicate shrinking of mammillary bodies and changes in the brain. Enlargement of ventricles and presence of diencephalic lesions may be seen in CT scans.
Treatment mainly comprises thiamine replacement therapy together with vitamin supplements. The dosages may vary depending on how an individual responds to treatment. If an individual is in the early stages of WKS and he or she stops taking alcohol and gets proper treatment, there is a marked recovery. The individual can begin to learn simple, repetitive tasks. That said, it may take more time for an individual to recover from confusion. If damage to the individual’s brain is irreversible as may happen with later stages of the disorder, there may be long-lasting memory and gait problems.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Life Expectancy
Alcoholism may run in families and it is important that if you come from a family that has a history of being alcoholics, you refrain from alcohol or take precautions to prevent excessive drinking of alcohol. Research indicates that there may be inherited susceptibility to getting into alcohol addiction or having neurological problems associated with alcohol abuse if your family has a history of alcoholism.
The life expectancy for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is normal if the individual does not drink alcohol. The death rate linked to WKS is about 10 to 20 percent of the cases resulting in deaths. Because survival of patients having Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is usually poor, early diagnosis and proper treatment for alcohol-intake are a priority. Thiamine deficiency should be treated effectively to improve clinical outcomes. Individuals who recover from the disorder and don’t return to using alcohol may almost lead a normal life expectancy. But addiction has a big problem and presents with episodes of relapses that can make recovery a big issue.
