The person is no longer able to form new memories in the later stages of the condition; they lose memories progressively as brain tissue is damaged over the course of the illness. Like with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Korsakoff’s syndrome can eventually lead to coma and death. Once a person has progressed to Korsakoff syndrome, there is little to be done other than manage the condition.

• First, neurological symptoms, such as vision problems and problems with muscle coordination, usually present themselves.
• At Westwind Recovery®, we offer alcohol addiction treatment programs in our Los Angeles recovery center.
• This is because many symptoms of wet brain are similar to withdrawal symptoms from alcohol.

Symptoms of Wet Brain

The national organization for rare diseases estimates that anywhere from 1-2 percent of the general US population currently has wet brain. Though the severities may change, the danger is still clearly there. Our treatment services are catered toward discovering and implementing solutions for sustained, long-term recovery. With the love and support of your family, and loved ones, we make sure to treat your addiction by understanding the root reasons behind it.

Stage 1 Symptoms: Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

• Wet brain is a very complex and unique disorder that needs to be diagnosed and treated as such.
• Despite its efficacy, an alcohol detox program on its own is not a solution for long-term sobriety.
• While anyone can develop the disorder, people who consume alcohol are more likely to develop the condition.
• Wernicke encephalopathy usually occurs first and causes damage to the thalamus and hypothalamus, which are in the lower part of the brain.

This is a type of neuropsychiatric dementia and is a psychosis that is chronic and is seen as the result of not having treated Wernicke’s encephalopathy quickly enough. Silver Pines and Steps to Recovery have provided addiction recovery programs in Pennsylvania for over a decade with detox, residential, outpatient, and sober living services. Last year, we expanded our services to include robust mental health treatment, a new outpatient location, and specialized programming for our nation’s veterans, with more to come this year!

Prognosis of Patients with Wet Brain

Left untreated, long-term effects like muscle coordination, confusion, and hallucinations can develop. As such, it is important to be able to cope with strange behaviors your loved one may now exhibit as a result of these rare disorders. Someone with wet brain may not be getting enough thiamine in their diet or may be participating in activities that cause them not to absorb vitamin B1 properly. Alcohol use can make it difficult for the body to absorb thiamine even when it is present in the diet. The symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy usually occur first, causing brain damage to the hypothalamus and thalamus. Wet brain is a layman’s term for a brain disorder known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Is Wet Brain Syndrome Reversible?

It is extremely important that if you suspect you or someone you love suffers from wet brain syndrome, you get them the help they need. Unfortunately, once Wet Brain advances to the second stage, it is permanent. Even though Wet Brain is permanent once it enters the second stage, it is important that mush brain you stop drinking. Without proper addiction treatment, the disorder will continue to progress causing a worsening of the cognitive, psychological and physical symptoms you experience. In some cases, if proper addiction treatment is not sought and you continue to drink, Wet Brain can be fatal.

• Abstaining from alcohol is very important since the condition happens due to abuse of alcohol.
• Wernicke’s encephalopathy can cause the eyes to become paralyzed, with drooping eyelids and difficulty in proper tracking.
• Changes in vision begin with eyelid drooping and double vision, which are also similar to signs of alcohol intoxication.
• Alcohol also causes inflammation of the digestive tract, making it even more difficult for the body to absorb thiamine from food.

What is Wet Brain? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

• Finally, it’s important to know that the second (chronic) stage has a sudden onset.
• In addition to your treatment plan, the following management techniques can help you make a full recovery.
• 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.
• He believes in the value of hard work and dedication to overcoming mental illness and will help his patients to achieve their mental health goals.

However, once the condition progresses to Korsakoff psychosis, the prospects for complete recovery diminish significantly. This stage is marked by chronic and severe memory impairments and cognitive deficits that are often permanent. While some individuals may experience partial improvement with ongoing thiamine supplementation and abstinence from alcohol, the brain damage incurred at this stage is generally irreversible. Long-term management focuses on mitigating symptoms and preventing further deterioration rather than achieving full recovery.

Korsakoff Psychosis Symptoms

While every tissue in your body needs thiamine to function properly, it does not occur naturally. This means that you have to consume foods that contain thiamine, like pork, beef, kale, or eggs. Regardless of what term is used, wet brain, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, or alcohol dementia, it all describes the same medical condition. Wet brain syndrome is dangerous and will lead to fatal results if left untreated.

The combined diagnosis of these two stages is called Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, is important because is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and the normal function of the nervous system. It’s also a cofactor for the production of key enzymes that enable our brain to function properly. There are many foods that have thiamine in them, including yeast, beef, whole grain, and eggs.

Who Is Most At Risk of Developing Wet Brain?

Unfortunately, it is not likely that symptoms that have already begun to form could be reversed. Some individuals need to stay in a hospital where they can receive vitamin B1 injections. This will often help them become less delirious and confused, as well as minimize vision problems and muscle coordination problems, but it will not reverse the issue of memory loss. Wet brain is the direct result of a lack of thiamine in the body, making it hard for the brain to process sugar into the energy it requires to function properly. People can develop wet brain for a number of reasons, either because they are suffering from cancer, a chronic infection or infections, or AIDS. People who don’t eat enough, are on extreme and dangerous diets, and/or have eating disorders like anorexia can also become thiamine deficient and develop wet brain.