Brain Fog: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

The reversibility of wet brain, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, largely depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed and treated. This workhorse vitamin converts food into energy in the brain, nerves and heart. It helps the body process fats and proteins and break down carbohydrates. This therapy helps identify the underlying emotional causes behind a drinking problem, thus equipping alcoholics with better coping mechanisms. 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.

Wet Brain Infographic

For example, suppose you are a chronic and heavy drinker who does not have sufficient nutritional understanding of healthy eating and drinks, leading to a poor nutritional diet. In that case, this puts you at increased risk of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. It’s important to note that thiamine will not improve intellect or memory in wet brain patients.

Wet Brain Syndrome: Understanding the Consequences of Long-Term, Untreated Alcoholism

• In this case, Wernicke syndrome is the initial, acute, shorter phase with more serious symptoms.
• Your provider will also discuss any side effects to look out for while you’re taking a new medication.
• In addition to receiving a vitamin B1 injection and stopping your consumption of alcohol, it is important to focus on eating a well-balanced diet.

With Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a person will develop neurological symptoms because the brain is suffering from lesions that form from a lack of adequate thiamine. Once the signs of the first part of the wet brain syndrome diminish, a mush brain meaning person can develop the symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis. This brain disorder suddenly comes on and is often referred to as “alcohol-related dementia,” as brain damage can result in challenges with cognition and memory functions.

Understanding Addiction

Some of the most common neurological conditions caused by alcohol can include dementia, polyneuropathy, and cerebellar degeneration. Fetal alcohol syndrome is also a condition that occurs due to alcohol exposure before birth. Abstaining from alcohol or drinking in moderation may help reduce the risk of developing wet brain, along with getting enough nutrition.

Both of these problems can lead to a deficiency of thiamine as well as other important nutrients and vitamins. As a result, people who suffer from alcoholism may begin to experience symptoms of WKS and become very ill. Glucose, a type of sugar, also increases the likelihood of developing an alcoholic wet brain. Because alcohol is turned into glucose sugar in the body, the risk factors of developing WKS, or wet brain, are increased for long-term alcoholics.

Signs and Symptoms of Wernicke Encephalopathy

Your physician may initially assess you to check for indicators of alcoholism and wet brain. They may perform a function test on your liver to screen you for liver cirrhosis in some instances. Wet brain is the informal name for Wernicke Korsakoff psychosis` syndrome, which is a type of brain disease caused by undue alcohol consumption. This syndrome (wet brain) is hazardous when caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

• Reports from the NIAAA show that up to 80 per cent of alcoholics may have thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiencies.
• Early detection and proper diagnosis of Wernicke’s encephalopathy can allow for reversing some of the symptoms, which is why it is so important to reach out for help as soon as possible.
• At Wellness Retreat Recovery, we offer comprehensive and evidence-based care to help individuals overcome their addiction to alcohol and achieve lasting recovery.
• Your mind is in a state of buffering, like waiting for a video to load with an unstable internet connection.
• This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.
• 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.
• 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.

It is hard to know how many people may have Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome because the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal or intoxication at times. Besides, many chronic alcoholics may be destitute or have a reduced social circle or support mechanism because of their alcoholism, which results in fewer official diagnoses of what is alcoholism wet brain. About 80% of people with alcohol use disorder have a thiamine deficiency, and up to 2% of the total U.S. adult population has Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.