Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: causes and symptoms

The memory operation in human beings it is one of the most complex and difficult aspects to study in the field of psychology and cognitive sciences.

However, there are a number of disorders that help to better understand the fundamentals of memory. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is one of them.

What is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?

Summarizing, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a brain disorder due to lack of vitamin B1 (also called thiamine). This syndrome can also be understood as the union of two different mental disorders: the Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome.

We are going to know what each of these pathologies consists of, as well as their main symptoms and some possible forms of treatment.

Wernicke encephalopathy

It is a neurological disease caused by a lack of thiamine. Its symptoms have to do with incoordination when making the necessary movements to walk (ataxia), problems when moving the eyes and the appearance of a constant state of confusion.

Korsakoff syndrome

In Korsakoff Syndrome, or

Korsakoff psychosis, its symptoms are more developed with memory problems, to the point where this syndrome is usually included in the types of amnesia.

Thus, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a symptom picture that encompasses the problems that appear both in Wernicke's Encelopathy and those associated with Korsakoff's Psychosis. While the symptoms of the former are manifested in an acute symptomatic peak, those of Korsakoff's Syndrome are chronic.

The spectrum of symptoms related to Korsakoff Syndrome usually appears as the symptoms of Wernicke's Encephalopathy disappear.

Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

The diagnosis of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome can only be made by specialists with medical training. However, it is good recognize the main symptoms by which these experts are guided when it comes to detecting the syndrome, to know if a person should visit the doctor or not.

The main symptoms related to Wernicke encephalopathy are these:

• The appearance of tremors in the legs and difficulties in coordinating the movements necessary to walk.

• The appearance of strange eye movements that make it difficult to see: nystagmus, double vision, etc.

• A state of confusion or apathy appears that cannot be explained in any other way than by neurological damage.

Symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome rather they have to do with memory, and are these:

• Anterograde amnesia, that is, inability to form new memories from the moment the syndrome appears. Almost everything that is experienced is forgotten shortly after it has been experienced.

• Retrograde amnesia, that is, inability or serious difficulties to remember some important events from the past.

• FabulationIn other words, an invention of history to "fill in" those gaps that are not remembered, usually unconsciously.

The causes of this syndrome

Lack of vitamin B1 related to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome it is usually associated with the abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages, but it can also be due to a failure in the absorption of nutrients from what is ingested.

While Wernicke's encephalopathy causes damage to the thalamus and the hypothalamus (the two large structures in an area of ​​the brain called the diencephalon), Korsakoff Syndrome is caused by damage in more distributed areas related to memory both in the memorization of information and in the retrieval of regards.

Possible treatments

Currently, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome has no cure, so its treatment is aimed at making the condition symptomatic does not get worse and that its effects can be controlled as much as possible to make the person's quality of life worse as minimum.

The treatments, which must always be directed by a specialist, often address the syndrome through prevention of continued alcohol use, the improvement of the person's eating habits, individual psychological care or in support groups, and the injection of vitamin B1.

The symptoms that can remit more easily are those that have to do with motor coordination and eye movement, but those that have to do with cognitive abilities do not usually improve and, if not treated properly, can worsen until leading to coma and death.