Wet Brain: What Is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome? FHE Health
Brain fog, also called mental fog, can happen after an illness, as a side effect of a medication (like chemotherapy) or as a symptom of an underlying condition. A healthcare provider can help you determine what’s causing brain fog to help you feel more like yourself. Comprehensive addiction treatment is frequently necessary for alcoholics and chronic alcohol abusers. That’s what we offer to clients at the Discovery Institute for Addictive Disorders in New Jersey.
- Individuals with wet brain may also appear poorly nourished and experience weakness and decreased coordination.
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- This explains why individuals with wet brain syndrome have a variety of serious medical issues.
- Book in a break where you can rediscover rest, take time out for wonder and enjoy whatever else it is that fills you up.
- Wet brain, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome caused by alcohol use, is a type of brain damage caused by low levels of thiamine.
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Up to 85% of those who survive the first stage of wet brain will go on to develop the symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis. While early intervention during the Wernicke’s encephalopathy stage can prevent the progression to Korsakoff’s psychosis, many individuals do not receive treatment in time. It’s important to recognize the early signs of this condition and seek prompt medical care.
Clearing the haze: A brighter cognitive future
- According to research, alcohol can have a serious impact on memory, specifically disrupting the ability to form long-term memories.
- Thiamine supplements and a good diet can help individuals who face challenges with alcohol use.
- One of the primary treatment options we offer is inpatient rehab for alcohol addiction.
- Men suffering from alcohol abuse, between years, are slightly more affected than women of the same age.
While abstaining from alcohol is necessary in helping prevent or reduce more damage from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, it is also important to keep in mind the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. One of the most common goals of wet brain treatment is to manage symptoms and to help prevent the condition from worsening. Doctors typically treat Wernicke’s disease with intravenous administration of vitamin B1, as well as glucose. Treatment for wet brain may also involve treating co-occurring conditions. A doctor may do different exams to rule mush brain meaning out any other conditions or possible causes, however, wet brain is most often linked to alcohol use disorder.
Do I Have Wet Brain?
Genetics, preexisting conditions, and other factors help determine whether an alcoholic eventually develops this mush brain disease. If someone develops a drinking problem, seeks treatment within a few years of the onset of their alcoholism, and remains sober, chances are they’re not at risk for developing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. On the other hand, chronic alcoholics, or those who consistently drink for many years and never enter alcohol rehab, are likely to suffer symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Most people Drug rehabilitation with Wernicke encephalopathy experience a progressive worsening of symptoms.
Heart and nervous system cells are extremely sensitive to a thiamine deficiency. Congestive heart failure and extensive cognitive impairment (“mush brain”) are often the cause of alcoholics requiring long-term hospitalization or nursing home care. If you are suffering from alcohol abuse, it’s important to take the necessary action in order to prevent wet brain symptoms from developing in your life. As we mentioned earlier, the symptoms of the final stages of wet brain are less likely to be treatable and can even be fatal.