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Depriving the brain over long periods of thiamine damages this region, and left untreated and unchecked, it can cause permanent brain damage. The outcome of wet brain is determined by the progression of the disease. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/essential-tremor-alcohol/ Receiving treatment early before permanent damage occurs will greatly raise your chances. The majority of deaths are caused by infections to the lungs, high blood toxicity, or permanent brain damage.
Approximately 6.2% of Americans aged 18 years old and older meet the clinical criteria for alcohol use disorder. When most people think about drinking-related problems, they picture car accidents, fights, and run-ins with the police. But problem drinking can also lead to a range of severe and sometimes irreversible health problems. 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.
What is Wet Brain? Signs, Symptoms and Treatment for Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome
Wet brain syndrome (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) is a brain disorder that develops in individuals who have a lack of vitamin B1 in the brain. Having a lack of vitamin B1 in the brain causes brain tissue to weaken. The first condition, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, is a severe condition that impairs memory and motor function. The second condition, Wernicke’s Korsakoff’s psychosis, typically develops in individuals who continue to consume alcohol and leads to permanent symptoms or damage.
Doctors will help patients identify a more well-rounded diet of vitamin B1. The long-term effects of this disease can range from difficulty with personal interactions and injuries caused by loss of coordination to coma or even death. While wet brain isn’t curable, early detection can help treat symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a type of dementia or cognitive impairment caused by a deficiency of thiamine, or vitamin B1. Symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome usually begin as the signs of Wernicke encephalopathy start to go away. That also makes it hard for you to learn anything new or make new memories.
Risks of Mixing Zoloft and Alcohol
His passion for medical education led to his journey in medical writing. He also serves as medical coordinator and content writer for Gerocare Solutions, for which he also volunteers as a health advisor/consultant for the elderly. In serious cases, it can cause brain damage and lead to problems with memory and your walk that don’t go away. When you have too little thiamine, your brain doesn’t have enough energy to work properly. About 50% of those who develop Wernicke encephalopathy eventually develop Korsakoff syndrome.
Left untreated, the disease can result in death once the final stages of wet brain are reached. Because WKS is composed of two separate diseases, there are two unique sets of symptoms that can indicate the development of WKS. If untreated and alcohol drinking continues, they then progress into those of Korsakoff’s psychosis.
Is Wet Brain Permanent?
Without proper addiction treatment, the disorder will continue to progress causing a worsening of the cognitive, psychological and physical symptoms you experience. It is possible to reverse Wernicke syndrome, the first stage what is mush brain of wet brain. Normally, this is treated with thiamine injections or having vitamin B1 directly put into the body through an IV (Bhargava, 2020). The sooner that someone seeks treatment, the easier this process will be.
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. While the most prevalent cause of Wet brain may be constant alcohol abuse, anorexia, and many other dysfunctions that drain thiamine may also be the reason for its development. The active introduction of glucose to a brain that is deficient in thiamine may also cause a wet brain. The disorder is broken down into two stages called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. Depending on a patient’s prognosis, care may need to be supportive and focused on managing symptoms.