korsakoff's syndrome

Korsakoff's syndrome (aka Korsakoff's psychosis, amnesic-confabulatory syndrome), is a continuum of Wernicke's encephalopathy, though a recognised episode of Wernicke's is not always obvious. Korsakoff's presents with symptoms of severe anterograde and retrograde amnesia, as well as confabulation. These symptoms are caused by damage to mammillary bodies and other brain regions due to deficiency of thiamine (Vitamin B₁). This is most often caused by chronic alcoholism, though other conditions including severe malnutrition have been known to cause it. When Wernicke's encephalopathy accompanies Korsakoff's syndrome, the combined syndrome is called the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Pathologically, there is neuronal loss, gliosis, and hemorrhage in mammillary bodies. Intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) injection of thiamine is used to treat this condition, though recovery is slow and often incomplete. A famous case study is recounted by Oliver Sacks in "The Lost Mariner", which can be found in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.

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