FreeMD® Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: Definition

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Definition

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Definition

Common names:

Alcoholic Encephalopathy
Korsakoff Psychosis
Wernicke's Encephalopathy
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

A person with Wernicke-Korsakoff has abnormal brain function caused by thiamine deficiency. This condition is most common in those who abuse alcohol.

Continue to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Incidence

View more Brain and brainstem disease topics

Related Topics:

Alcohol abuse
Alcoholism
Alzheimer's disease
Confusion
Dementia
Memory loss
Mental health
Pick's disease
Senile dementia
Thiamin deficiency
More...

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Last Updated: Jan 7, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome References:

Day E, Bentham P, Callaghan R, Kuruvilla T, George S. Thiamine for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in people at risk from alcohol abuse. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD004033.
Jauhar P, Montaldi D. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and the use of brain imaging. Alcohol Alcohol Suppl. 2000 May-Jun;35(1):21-3.
Thomson AD. Mechanisms of vitamin deficiency in chronic alcohol misusers and the development of the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Alcohol Alcohol Suppl. 2000 May-Jun;35(1):2-7.