People who regularly abuse alcohol for long periods of time are more likely than others to get wet brain, although it can also be caused by intense periods of vomiting or poor nutrition. Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B1, so people who binge drink on a regular basis or who consume large amounts of alcohol frequently may develop wet brain. Hanley Center can help you or a loved one navigate the complexities of addiction while facing the challenges of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Abstaining from alcohol or drinking in moderation may help reduce the risk of developing wet brain, along with getting enough nutrition. However, once a person is in the end stages of wet brain, or once it has developed into Korsakoff’s psychosis, the damage done to the brain is not reversible.

Impact on Individuals

In alcohol misuse, alcohol impedes thiamine absorption in the gut, depletes liver thiamine reserves, and worsens other nutrient deficiencies. Thiamine is vital for brain energy production; its scarcity leads to impaired brain function. Thiamine shortage affects crucial brain areas governing balance, cognition, memory, and emotions. Alcohol-related thiamine deficit commonly results in cognitive impairments like memory loss, attention issues, and reduced problem-solving abilities, further highlighting its detrimental impact. Chronic alcohol misuse can have many serious health consequences, including what is commonly known as “wet brain.” When you drink excessively, it affects your body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

Is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome the same as Wet Brain?

So, what—exactly—is a “wet brain?” According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is really two different disorders. During these final stages of 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.

How Is Wet Brain Treated?

No one intends to develop an addiction, but it can occur without you realizing what is truly happening. Most people with Korsakoff’s psychosis cannot live independently, and their symptoms are likened to that of dementia. When untreated, Wernicke encephalopathy causes death in up to 20 percent of cases.

What Is Confabulation in Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?

This helps to improve cognitive skills and relieve symptoms, especially in the early phases of the illness. Alcoholics with more than 10 years of heavy drinking, previous withdrawal episodes, and delirium tremens have a higher risk of developing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Malnutrition resulting from alcohol addiction is a common risk factor for this condition. The long-term effects of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can significantly impact an individual’s daily life and functioning.

• Chronic alcohol misuse can have many serious health consequences, including what is commonly known as “wet brain.” When you drink excessively, it affects your body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
• Discover effective strategies for overcoming porn addiction and reclaiming control.
• It is very important for a person to get help overcoming alcohol use disorder, especially before they develop chronic conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
• If you or someone you know exhibits signs of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, such as confusion, memory loss, or difficulty with coordination, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly.
• When Wernicke’s encephalopathy is left untreated, and a person continues to abuse alcohol, they will likely develop Korsakoff’s psychosis.
• While these impacts can create lifelong damage to the brain and cognitive functions, individuals can find healing and improvements in cognitive functioning through recovery and quitting alcohol use.

Following medical detoxification and complete physical and mental evaluation, people with wet brain disease receive intravenous administration of thiamine, magnesium, or both. Most patients see improvement in their physical and mush brain cognitive functioning within several weeks. Once they’ve been discharged from the hospital, patients should continue the regimen of taking oral thiamine and other recommended vitamin supplements. Amnesia is what does the term wet brain mean typically found in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

• Heart rate, eye movements, body temperature, and even a person’s walk could all signal a doctor to a possible thiamine deficiency.
• Improvements depend on the severity of brain damage and the individual’s response to therapy.
• Other symptoms when a person develops Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, they experience loss of mental capacity, motor function, and eye movement or vision.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations to manage complications and treat symptoms.
• “Wet brain” is a term used to describe the chronic brain disorder, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or Korsakoff’s psychosis.

For example, a person in the Korsakoff’s psychosis stage of wet brain may begin to notice tachycardia or a more rapid heartbeat. They may also notice problems in their central nervous system and extremities, like hands and feet. Despite its efficacy, an alcohol detox program on its own is not a solution for long-term sobriety.

Preventing Wet Brain: Steps to Protect Your Brain Health

“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. 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. Traditional regimens in the United States typically involve 100 mg of parental thiamine for 3-7 days, followed by oral thiamine indefinitely as long as the patient continues to consume alcohol. However, there is emerging evidence suggesting that higher doses may be necessary to achieve symptom resolution.

• On the other hand, chronic alcoholics, or those who consistently drink for many years and never enter alcohol rehab, are likely to suffer symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
• Beyond memory loss, cognitive decline affects reasoning and problem-solving.
• In the final stages of wet brain, the ability to form new memories is often lost, and a person starts to progressively lose more memories.
• If you relapse after having completed 90 days of consecutive treatment at an AAC facility, you can return for another 30 days of treatment at no additional cost.
• A thiamine deficiency essentially robs the brain of energy, because without thiamine the brain cannot process glucose.

Cognitive Rehabilitation and Therapy

In a study of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS), 97 alcoholics whose autopsy confirmed WKS were observed. Of these 97 individuals, only 16% had documentation of all three classic symptoms. In the remaining cases, 29% had two signs, 37% had only one sign, and 19% presented none of the classic signs. In addition to these symptoms, patients with Korsakoff Psychosis often experience severe amnesia, dementia, and mood instability. Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, is important because is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and the normal function of the nervous system.