Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Other studies have shown deficits in recognition memory and stimulus-reward associative functions in patients wet brain with WKS. The researchers were also successful in displaying a deficit in recognition memory by having patients make a yes/no decision as to whether a stimulus was familiar or novel . The patients in this study also showed a significant deficit in their ability to perform this task.

It is also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and is caused by a vitamin B1 deficiency. At this point in wet brain syndrome, treatment can manage symptoms, but brain damage from drinking is severe and permanent. Patients who suffer from Korsakoff psychosis may be unable to care for themselves.

Treatment for Alcohol Misuse & Addiction

In its further stages, wet brain will cause severe memory loss that can be similar to Alzheimer’s disease, hallucinations, and psychosis. People who have severe wet brain may never recover, and they may not be able to live an independent life ever again. Wet brain, formally known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is a type of brain damage that can occur after extended and repeated exposure to heavy drinking. The excessive consumption of alcohol can cause a deficiency of thiamine, or vitamin B1, which is an essential vitamin for the proper functioning of the brain and body. Alcoholism interferes with the consumption, absorption, and activation of thiamine in your system. The wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is actually the occurrence of two syndromes. Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome are two separate conditions though they commonly occur together because they are both caused by a thiamine deficiency.

“Encephalopathy” refers to any disease that affects the structure or function of the brain. In Wernicke’s encephalopathy, this commonly refers to bleeding of the brain. And if alcohol upsets a person’s stomach, this could trigger vomiting or loss of appetite — two other ways of depleting the body’s thiamine reserves. We’ll be able to tell you if your provider is in network with Sunrise House Treatment Center and all American Addiction Centers locations. Frontman and lead vocalist of the hard rock band Breaking Benjamin, Benjamin Burnley, is well known to be living with Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome due to his past alcoholism. Internationally, the prevalence rates of WKS are relatively standard, being anywhere between zero and two percent.

Self Care Ideas for a Healthy Mind and Body

Studies have shown that moderate to long-term stays in residential rehabilitation facilities give individuals the best chance to recover from their addictions. We offer a structured environment in which our clients feel safe and secure. Our clients are encouraged to work through the underlying problems that are often the catalysts for their addictions, including depression, anxiety, and social disorders. We recognize the importance of diagnosing and treating these problems to facilitate recovery. Complete abstinence from alcohol intake is essential so that the condition does not worsen should the person already have it. Abstinence is still highly recommended even if the person appears to have completely recovered from the ill effects of the first stage, as the body might still be vulnerable to thiamine depletion.

• The enzymes that turn thiamine into an active compound the body can use are preventing from working when someone consumes large amounts of alcohol.
• This treatment is not guaranteed to be effective and the thiamine needs to be administered adequately in both dose and duration.
• If you or a loved need to safely detox from drugs or alcohol, contact Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center Today.
• Frequently, secondary to thiamine deficiency and subsequent cytotoxic edema in Wernicke encephalopathy, patients will have marked degeneration of the mammillary bodies.
• The best process for most people is to get professional help to safely detox from alcohol and then progress into a complete rehabilitation program.
• Following an experience with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, it is possible someone could still have a normal life expectancy.

Take a closer look at Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome to understand how it develops and what can be done once it does. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is the official name for wet brain. The disorder is broken down into two stages called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. His first diagnosis noted symptoms including paralyzed eye movements, ataxia, and mental confusion. Also noticed were hemorrhages in the gray matter around the third and fourth ventricles and the cerebral aqueduct. Wernicke believed these hemorrhages were due to inflammation and thus the disease was named polioencephalitis haemorrhagica superior. Later, it was found that Wernicke encephalopathy and alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome are products of the same cause.

How Rehabilitation for Alcohol Use Can Help

Changes in vision begin with eyelid drooping and double vision, which are also similar to signs of alcohol intoxication. Chronic alcohol users often have inflamed digestive tracts, making it difficult for the body to absorb the thiamine it needs from the foods they consume. Thiamine is essential for converting sugar to energy in our bodies and creating chemical messengers in our brains. With the proper treatment and management, it’s possible to reverse the damage the condition has caused to your brain. Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates.

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• Wet brain is a disorder of the brain caused by a chronic thiamine deficiency.
• This indicates that wet brain is difficult to recognize early on.
• At this point in wet brain syndrome, treatment can manage symptoms, but brain damage from drinking is severe and permanent.
• Some scientists also believe, however, that it is two parts of the same condition, with Wernicke’s encephalopathy being the acute phase and Korsakoff’s syndrome being the chronic stage.

Nonetheless, alcoholism is typically the cause of the wet brain because alcohol interferes with the absorption of thiamine as well as the enzyme that activates thiamine in the body. Some alcohol rehab programs include cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy helps identify the underlying emotional causes behind a drinking problem, thus equipping alcoholics with better coping mechanisms.

Wet Brain: What Other Health Problems Can It Cause?

Wet brain syndrome is a severe condition with dreadful consequences. Alcohol technically poisons your body, so your liver has to work overtime to detoxify. This puts your liver into overdrive, and it has to process so many toxins that it gets damaged in the process.

• If the doctor is unaware of an existing alcohol problem, testing of the liver enzymes could help eliminate other possible causes of these symptoms.
• 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.
• According to the United States National Library of Medicine, in many wet brain cases, thiamine levels are endangered through poor eating habits.
• Other symptoms whena person develops Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, they experience loss of mental capacity, motor function, and eye movement or vision.
• The system is neither; it is in a state of constant wetness or, the opposite, never being dry.
• Typically this is the case in those suffering from eating disorders, but there are also cases where the body’s inability to absorb nutrients can cause wet brain.

Presence of thiamine deficient encephalopathy can occur in conjunction with these symptoms. This can occur due to Wernicke encephalopathy, eating disorders, malnutrition, and alcohol abuse. The longer someone lives with the symptoms of wet brain syndrome, the less chance there is of reversing the condition. Very few people with alcohol use disorder eat a healthy, balanced diet. For more information on alcohol abuse, call Bedrock Recovery Center today. Our inpatient treatment program offers the evidence-based services you need to achieve an alcohol-free life.

Can Wet Brain Be Reversed?

People with eating disorders should also be assessed if their thiamine levels have dropped to dangerously low levels, as this is also one way of developing a https://ecosoberhouse.com/. 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. Food items such as oranges, milk, spinach, pork, and soybeans are high in thiamine content, and as such, should be included in the diet. Dear Steve and Pete, I enjoy my time here at Discovery Institute.