Important Things to Know About Alcoholic Wet Brain

Contact Nova Recovery Center today for more information on our individualized drug and alcohol addiction recovery program. Your doctor will order tests to check your thiamine levels when attempting to diagnose wet brain.

A study on Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome showed that with consistent thiamine treatment there were noticeable improvements in mental status after only 2–3 weeks of therapy. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Thus, there is hope that with treatment Wernicke encephalopathy will not necessarily progress to WKS. People showing signs of Wernicke’s are given thiamine supplements.

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Every part of the body needs thiamine to function, with some bodily systems using more of the vitamin than others. There are enzymes in the brain that need thiamine, including several critical neurotransmitters. When someone doesn’t get enough thiamine over a long period of time, they will develop brain damage or wet brain. While thiamine deficiency can happen to people with poor diets, it is more common in those who drink heavily over the course of many years.

• The symptoms of wet brain, which tend to get more severe over time, are similar to those of dementia.
• It’s common for people struggling with alcohol addiction to not eat balanced, nutritional foods.
• All in all, it stands as a stark reminder that the habits leading to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome are close to home.
• Seek treatment for alcoholism and achieve and maintain sobriety to prevent and minimize the occurrence of permanent brain damage.
• A balanced diet is also highly recommended as malnutrition is a major contributing factor to the development of the wet brain and to its worsening.

The sooner you can recognize symptoms and receive appropriate treatment, the sooner you can stop the progression of the syndrome and greatly lower your chances of experiencing irreversible side effects. The key to treating wet brain is to receive treatment as soon as possible. Vitamin B1 that is administered intravenously can provide quick treatment that may be able to reverse some of the neurological symptoms, such as vision problems and muscle coordination issues. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders , Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome occurs in about 1 to 2 percent of the general population in the United States. The condition occurs slightly more in males than it does in females, and it occurs evenly across the population of people aged 30 to 70. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others. This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.

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In addition to this biological factor, many alcoholics have lifestyles that can contribute to thiamine deficiency, such as a poor diet lacking in essential nutrients. Wet brain is a slang term for the brain disease Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is when your brain has a severe lack of vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. Thiamine is responsible for helping the body process and use sugars to create energy successfully. In wet brain cases, thiamine levels are endangered through poor eating habits.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome typically starts with signs of brain damage, followed by symptoms of psychosis. The symptoms of wet brain, which tend to get more severe over time, are similar to those of dementia. This syndrome is also referenced as “alcohol-related dementia” because the mixture of the two disorders cause dementia-like symptoms. It can be extremely harmful when it goes untreated, so it’s important to know the risks and signs of wet brain. Another way you can get wet brain is through a lack of nutrients.

Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome Treatment and Diagnosis Criteria

Advanced stage WKS may lead to permanent and severe brain damage. The individual who lacks a proper diet over long periods of time can lead to several nutritional deficiencies, especially thiamine.

Some pharmacies or grocery stores will stock these supplements as well. In general, the three main symptoms to be on the lookout for include abnormal eye movements, a staggering gait and confusion. All three symptoms are present inabout 10% of patientswho have WE syndrome. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, WE can be difficult to diagnose. The prognosis of this part of the disease will depend on when thiamine supplementation is prescribed to patients.

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It could also potentially prevent a severe, untreatable, and possibly fatal condition. Vitamin B/thiamine deficiency causes damage to the brain, as well as the heart and nervous system. It’s an essential factor in building enzymes responsible for processing and converting sugar to energy. The second stage of wet brain develops when the first stage goes untreated. Bedrock Recovery Center offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. Additional vitamins are given as oral supplements, which can reduce confusion, increase coordination, and reduce memory problems in people with WKS disorder. The primary treatment for wet brain is aggressive thiamine supplementation.