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The onset of Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome may be hard to recognize, as many of the symptoms are similar to regular short-term Alcohol abuse or binge drinking. Wet brain disease can lead to a severe brain disorder, so it’s important to seek professional help once the symptoms start occurring. Anyone suffering from alcoholism is at risk of developing WKS disease. As such, those struggling with an alcohol addiction should seek treatment before such lifelong problems can develop.
The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other cognitive diseases, including varying forms of alcohol memory loss syndrome. Additionally, the patient may struggle to communicate their symptoms due to the confusion and memory loss caused by the disease. With either condition, signs of wet brain are cause for immediate treatment, as symptoms do not arise until WKS is significantly progressed.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment
This therapy helps identify the underlying emotional causes behind a drinking problem, thus equipping alcoholics with better coping mechanisms. If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ may have advanced to the second stage. You’ll then need to enter a substance abuse treatment facility to detox from Alcohol dependency and begin either an inpatient or outpatient program.
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Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
When a person starts to develop wet brain from Alcohol, symptoms will differ depending on what stage they’re in. There are two main stages – Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. Drinking disrupts neurotransmitters that send messages throughout the body.
- “Wet brain” is a term used to describe the chronic brain disorder, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or Korsakoff’s psychosis.
- Additionally, Alzheimer’s Society estimates that WKS affects about 2 percent of the general population.
- Over time, a chronically reduced absorption of thiamine results in brain damage.
- Many alcoholics lack the support they need to seek treatment and receive a formal diagnosis.
- This may sound easy enough, but damage to the brain of a person with Alcohol addiction is often a result of wet brain.
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Wet Brain from Alcohol: Signs, Symptoms, and Recovery
It also reduces the amount of thiamine the liver stores and disrupts the enzyme that activates the vitamin. Once a thiamine deficiency reaches a certain level, brain damage starts to occur. Some people call this brain disorder “alcohol-related dementia” since brain damage causes difficulties with memory and learning functions. According to a study by Oxford University Press, 10 to 24 percent of brain damage and dementia cases could be due to alcohol abuse. Additionally, Alzheimer’s Society estimates that WKS affects about 2 percent of the general population.
- The second stage, named Korsakoff’s psychosis, is not reversible.
- An individual in this state is susceptible to seizures, stroke, coma, or premature death.
- According to a study by Oxford University Press, 10 to 24 percent of brain damage and dementia cases could be due to alcohol abuse.
- But early detection can slow the progression of the disease and alleviate many symptoms.
It all depends on when the thiamine deficiency starts to affect the brain. When this happens, thiamine isn’t properly absorbed into the body. In addition, many people get wet brain from drinking Alcohol when their lifestyle deteriorates and they stop eating a balanced diet or taking vitamin supplements. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that 86.8 percent of American adults consumed alcohol at some time in their lifetime.
Tips for Avoiding Relapse After Recovery
From there, clinicians will work to help change the way that patients think about these triggers and even make efforts to leave them in the past. Along with medical detox, there are many different treatment modalities that are available to help patients who are suffering from addiction problems. Alcohol rehab can offer your loved one a number of services to help overcome substance abuse and learn the tools that are conducive with long-term sobriety. During alcohol rehab, one of the most common services offered is medically assisted detoxification. Some alcohol rehab programs include cognitive behavioral therapy.
However, in some cases, the neurological damage caused by WKS can be irreversible. The long-term effects of this disease can range from difficulty with personal interactions and injuries caused by loss of wet brain coordination to coma or even death. But in affluent countries like the United States, it is most commonly attributed to alcohol abuse, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we understand there’s no simple solution to substance abuse. We’ve felt the hopelessness of active addiction and found a way out. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse and alcoholism, seek treatment today. Depriving the thiamine brain for a long time can damage the cerebellum, which is the region responsible for coordination, movement, and memory. The second stage, named Korsakoff’s psychosis, is not reversible. When people develop Korsakoff’s psychosis, vitamin deficiency is present, and sudden, heavy intake of glucose occurs—resulting in what’s commonly known as the wet brain.