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The more someone drinks and the longer someone drinks without quitting, then the higher their risks of developing cancer, liver damage, sexual dysfunction, and nutritional deficits. Wet brain, also referred to as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is a brain disorder resulting from vitamin B (thiamine) deficiency. The condition is commonly seen in individuals suffering from alcohol use disorders (AUD). Wet brain requires medical treatment, which often includes thiamine supplements. Seeking help from an addiction treatment program is crucial for individuals suffering from wet brain syndrome, as the disorder will progress if alcohol consumption continues. Addiction treatment programs offer a range of tools and resources, including alcohol detox programs and mental health services, to help individuals overcome substance abuse.
Either Wernicke encephalopathy will transition into the second stage of wet brain and cause permanent brain damage, or it will be treated and resolved without causing damage. Wernicke encephalopathy can also lead to death and is considered the most dangerous stage of wet brain for quickly causing coma and death. In severe cases, wet brain can lead to death in about 10–15% of cases. 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.
Who is at risk for a wet brain?
However, people who struggle with alcohol use disorder may focus on consuming alcohol instead of eating a balanced diet, with whole grains and lean proteins. In other cases, alcohol can upset the stomach and the person may experience loss of appetite, or vomiting, which can reduce sources of thiamine. The liver stores some thiamine, although not very much, and damage to the liver from long-term alcohol abuse can prevent storage and release of this vitamin nutrient into the body.
It’s also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), named after German neurologist Carl Wernicke and neuropsychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff. Before the thiamine supplements are given, most doctors will check the thiamine levels in the blood of each patient. The blood work should also look at the concentration of other vitamins and minerals. Our medical staff will assess your situation to determine the dose and type of medications to prescribe. There are two distinct phases in the progression of wet brain or Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Once taken up into the cells,
thiamine first is modified by the addition of one or more phosphate groups.
How Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Develops
Addiction to opioids and alcohol doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Alcohol also damages and irritates the tissues of the digestive tract, making it hard for the body to absorb the nutrients from food. Learn more about our rehab center in Los Angeles or our addiction recovery therapeutic activities. People with Korsakoff Syndrome are typically unaware that they’re suffering from the disorder. You may also experience problems such as low blood pressure and hypothermia.
Is wet brain rare?
About 1-2 percent of the population is affected by wet brain, according to research by the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Men suffering from alcohol abuse, between 30-70 years, are slightly more affected than women of the same age.
Unfortunately, it is not likely that symptoms that have already begun to form could be reversed. Some individuals need to stay in a hospital where they can receive vitamin B1 injections. This will often help them become less delirious and confused, as well as minimize vision problems and muscle coordination problems, but it will not reverse the issue of memory loss. As such, it is important to be able to cope with strange behaviors your loved one may now exhibit as a result of these rare disorders. However, the most common reason this issue develops is as a result of alcohol abuse. This is why the disorder is sometimes called alcoholic encephalopathy or alcoholic dementia.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of this stage of wet brain include impaired memory and learning abilities. While anyone can develop the disorder, people who consume alcohol are more likely to develop the condition. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 80% of people with alcohol use disorder have a thiamine deficiency. Time is of the essence if you or a loved one is showing signs of wet brain syndrome.
Is it too late to reverse alcohol damage?
Drinking can cause many brain and body changes, but it's not too late to reverse some of the damage by stopping the addiction. Contact Ardu Recovery Center to learn how we can help with care and support of recovery.
There are two reasons why thiamine deficiency happens when you drink large amounts of alcohol. The only way to get proper amounts of thiamine is by eating a proper diet. Unfortunately, many individuals who suffer sober house from alcohol abuse and alcoholism don’t consume a well-balanced diet that contains enough thiamine. Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin that is vital to helping to covert glucose into energy.
This hypothesis is consistent
with the clinical course of the neurocognitive deficits observed in alcoholics. Networks of nerve cells (i.e., neural pathways) extend from the cerebellum through
brain regions called the basal ganglia and thalamus to the frontal lobe. As the alcoholism progresses and alcohol exposure
persists, damage to the frontal lobe is also likely to occur, further interfering
with the functions of that brain region.
Without proper addiction treatment, the disorder will continue to progress causing a worsening of the cognitive, psychological and physical symptoms you experience. In some cases, if proper addiction treatment is not sought and you continue to drink, Wet Brain can be fatal. Wet brain, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is a brain disorder that is caused by a severe deficiency in vitamin B1. An individual who develops Wet Brain can experience a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that range from leg tremors and vision problems to memory issues, delusions, and visual or auditory hallucinations. When it comes to alcoholism and the health problems it can cause, liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, or fatty liver, and changes in personality or moods are often the first things that come to mind.
Signs of wet brain can differ depending on the stage of the disorder. In the first of the wet brain stages, known as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, symptoms can include confusion, disorientation, changes in vision and abnormal eye movements. This syndrome can occur if Wernicke’s encephalopathy goes untreated. It triggers damage in your brain’s main nerve cells, called neurons.
- Not having enough can lead to the two stage disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
- After this part of wet brain syndrome, the condition evolves into Korsakoff’s psychosis.
- These signs — coupled with a doctor’s awareness of the patient’s alcohol addiction —could lead to further neurological testing.