Wet Brain Syndrome Or Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

What Is Wet Brain Syndrome?

The Link Between Alcohol Abuse And The Wernicke Korsakoff (Wet Brain)

Alcohol abuse is strongly linked to wet brain syndrome, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). WKS is caused by a vitamin B1 deficiency, which is often caused by heavy drinking or starvation. Alcohol impairs the digestive system’s ability to properly absorb B1, leading to a deficiency in the vitamin and potentially resulting in the development of wet brain syndrome.

Wet brain syndrome is a severe form of thiamine deficiency, which is caused by a lack of the vitamin B-1 that helps the body to produce energy. It is most often seen in heavy drinkers and those with an unhealthy diet who do not receive enough of the vital vitamin in their diet. Symptoms of wet brain syndrome can include memory loss, delusions, disorientation, and even extreme changes in emotional state as the brain is not able to properly process incoming information.

Wet Brain Syndrome Statistics

According to estimates from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, about 1 in 8 people who misuse alcohol develop some form of thiamine deficiency, which includes wet brain syndrome. Additionally, some estimates suggest that wet brain syndrome affects around 10-15% of people with alcohol dependence.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) [3] reported that in 2019, 85.6 percent of people ages 18 and older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. Drinking alcohol in moderate amounts is not necessarily bad, and alcohol is even reported to have certain health benefits. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans define responsible drinking as drinking only once daily for women and twice a day for men, commonly considered the safe zone. Consuming more than these levels may result in binge drinking, and if this goes on for an extensive period of time, it may lead to substance abuse, alcohol addiction, or wet brain.

What Is Wet Brain Syndrome? Infographic

Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome often happen together. These issues occur when the brain gets damaged because it doesn’t have enough vitamin B1.

Embed the above “What Is Wet Brain?” Infographic to your Website. This infographic is provided by the We Level Up addiction treatment center team. To use the above infographics, you agree to link back and attribute its source and owner at https://welevelupnj.com/addiction/wet-brain/

What Is Wet Brain? image link: https://welevelupnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/What-is-Wet-Brain-min-1030×1030.png

Embed the above “Wet Brain Syndrome” Infographic to your Website. This infographic is provided by the We Level Up addiction treatment center team. To use the above infographics, you agree to link back and attribute its source and owner at https://welevelupnj.com/addiction/wet-brain/

Wet Brain Syndrome image link: https://welevelupnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wet-Brain-Syndrome-min.png

What Is Korsakoff’s Psychosis?

According to NIAAA ]5], approximately 80 to 90 percent of alcoholics with Wernicke’s encephalopathy also develop Korsakoff’s psychosis, a chronic and debilitating syndrome characterized by persistent learning and memory problems. A person with Korsakoff’s psychosis is forgetful and quickly frustrated and has difficulty with walking and coordination. Although these individuals have problems remembering old information (i.e., retrograde amnesia), it is their difficulty in “laying down” new information (i.e., anterograde amnesia) that is the most striking. For example, these individuals can discuss an event in their lives in detail, but an hour later might not remember ever having the conversation.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) [5], The cognitive deficits seen in Korsakoff syndrome are thought to be primarily due to damage to the following areas- the anterior nucleus of the thalamus, mammillary bodies, and corpus callosum. There is also evidence of decreased glucose metabolism in the cerebral cortex. Cerebellar degeneration is also common among alcoholics and can lead to the ataxia and oculomotor deficits seen in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Wet Brain Syndrome Diagnosis (Exams And Tests)

Examination of the nervous/muscular system may show damage to many nerve systems:

The person may appear poorly nourished. The following tests are used to check a person’s nutrition level:

Liver enzymes may be high in people with a history of long-term alcohol abuse.

Other conditions that may cause vitamin B1 deficiency include:

A brain MRI may show changes in the tissue of the brain. But if Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is suspected, treatment should start immediately. Usually, a brain MRI exam is not needed. A person must be sober when demonstrating symptoms to be diagnosed with wet brain, considering that withdrawal or medical complications associated with alcohol use can mimic symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Is Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome (Wet Brain) Reversible?

According to the NCBI [5], Wernicke encephalopathy is acute and often reversible, while Korsakoff syndrome is chronic and may be irreversible. However, the severity of a person’s symptoms, how early a person begins treatment, and the type of treatment they receive can all significantly impact whether a case of Wernicke encephalopathy can be reversed or alleviated. Some people may make a full recovery, although this is rare. Thiamine therapy will offer varying levels of improvement in symptoms after 5-12 days. Early intervention is the best way to increase the body’s ability to restore normal function.

Possible Complications Of Wet Brain Syndrome

Wet brain symptoms and complications that may result include:

Wet Brain Treatment

According to NIAAA, the cerebellum, an area of the brain responsible for coordinating movement and perhaps even some forms of learning, appears to be particularly sensitive to the effects of thiamine deficiency and is the region most frequently damaged in association with chronic alcohol consumption. Administering thiamine helps to improve brain function, especially in patients in the early stages of the wet brain. 

When damage to the brain is more severe, care shifts from treatment to providing support to the person and their family. Custodial care may be necessary for the 25 percent of patients who have permanent brain damage and significant loss of cognitive skills. The treatment goals are to control symptoms and prevent the disorder from getting worse. 

Scientists believe that a genetic variation could be one explanation for why only some alcoholics with thiamine deficiency go on to develop severe conditions such as WKS. Still, additional studies are necessary to clarify how genetic variants might cause some people to be more vulnerable to WKS than others.

If you have an alcohol use disorder and a mental health problem, it is essential to seek help for both conditions.  Once a proper and comfortable detox is in place and thiamine levels are elevated from Vitamin B1 shots, eating a nutritious and balanced diet is all that’s left to do. This ensures the effects of the wet brain are mitigated to the extent that it is possible. 

Depending on the severity and stage of the condition, this could lead to a full recovery. However, it might only stop the syndrome from progressing even further. Either way, it will improve the devastating effects caused by untreated Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Although, there are different alcoholics, alcoholic personalities, and tolerances. The health effects are the same, especially long term. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, WKS symptoms will not get worse over time if you undergo treatment early on.

What Is Wet Brain Syndrome? Video

Delve into the intricacies of Wet Brain Syndrome, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, a severe neurological disorder resulting from vitamin B1 deficiency. This condition is notably associated with alcohol abuse, dietary deficiencies, and other factors.

https://youtu.be/3-d3V8ZLzgQ