What else is Wernicke's syndrome called?
FEATURED BOOKS ON ALCOHOLISM FROM BARNES & NOBLE.COM?
WHAT IS WERNICKE’S SYNDROME?
Wernicke's syndrome is a deficiency in the vitamin, thiamin that is due to poor nutrition. It is difficult for the body to get all of the vitamins it needs if the main part of one's diet is alcoholic beverages. Wernicke's syndrome often exists at the same time of another syndrome known as Korsakoff's syndrome. Korsakoff's syndrome is an impaired memory syndrome caused by long-term alcoholism.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIAMIN DEFIECIENCY IN WERNICKE'S SYNDROME?
The thiamin deficiency in Wernicke's syndrome leads to brain damage. Specifically, the brain becomes inflamed, bleeds, and deteriorates over time. Scientists have found characteristic patterns of altered cells in several areas of the brain in people with Wernicke's syndrome.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF WERNICKE'S SYNDROME?
|
The brain damage that occurs in Wernicke's syndrome often leads to psychosis, in which the person has an impaired ability to understand reality and communicate effectively with others to the degree that he/she cannot cope with the demands of everyday life. Wernicke's syndrome can also cause other impairments in mental functioning (such as confusion, poor memory, and poor attention), which can be mild to severe, depending on the stage of the syndrome.
Wernicke's syndrome is also associated with double vision, difficulty in spontaneous eye movements, altered size of the pupils (the small black circle in the middle of each eye), and nystagmus (rhythmic involuntary jerking or swinging movements of the eyes). There is also an impaired ability to coordinate muscles and smooth voluntary movements. This impairment in movement occurs along with repetitive and usually involuntary muscle shaking. |
|
WHERE IS THE BRAIN DAMAGE LOCATED IN WERNICKE'S SYNDROME?
Brain damage in Wernicke's syndrome typically occurs in the hypothalamus (an area in the lower part of the brain that is important for many bodily functions such as sleep, thirst, and hunger) and the mammillary bodies (a part of the hypothalamus that is important for memory). The brain damage can also occur in tissues surrounding the ventricles (a series of chambers in the brain filled with fluid) and the cerebral aqueduct (a canal that connects two of these chambers).
ARE THERE OTHER CAUSES OF WERNICKE'S SYNDROME BESIDES CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM?
Yes. Wernicke's syndrome can also occur when one has poor nutrition and a poor ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients in the body, as well as one of the following two problems: (1) a disease of the digestive tract (the tube leading from the mouth to the anus) or (2) a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum, in which pregnant women have prolonged vomiting, loss of weight, and imbalances in fluids and electrolytes (chemical substances that are able to conduct electricity after they are melted or dissolved in water).
WHY IS IT CALLED WERNICKE'S SYNDROME?
Wernicke's syndrome was named after the German neurologist, Karl Wernicke, who lived from 1848 to 1905.
WHAT ELSE IS WERNICKE'S SYNDROME CALLED?
Wernicke's syndrome is also known as Wernicke's disease, Wernicke's encephalopathy and superior hemorrhagic polioencephalitis.
TM
