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Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Research Paper

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Abstract Thiamine is an essential vitamin needed by all cells in the body. When the body lacks thiamine for an extended period of time, many problems arise, mainly in the brain and heart. Alcoholism and malnourishment are two of the leading causes of thiamine deficiency. Although fairly rare, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) can be a severe consequence of thiamine shortage. WKS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and disrupts the neuronal signaling. Not only does it make daily life very difficult, it can become life-threatening and cause permanent damage. The lack of thiamine interrupts many biochemical pathways in the body, including the pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis, and the Citric Acid cycle. Disrupting these pathways causes WKS to present along with multiple other complications.
Introduction
WKS is actually a combination of two different diseases. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is the first to appear. It is a short-lived, but life-threatening mental condition. It causes ocular disturbances, mental state variation, and unsteady movements and stance (Thomson, 2009). Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is mainly seen in alcoholics, but has been observed in non-alcoholics as well. Korsakoff’s syndrome is the second illness to present. …show more content…

Also, if caught early enough, the less likely there will be residual brain damage and memory impairment. Treatment for WKS is immediate administration of thiamine. Thiamine doses differ from patient to patient depending on severity of the WKS. Oral thiamine supplements are not effective in severe cases because of the liver damage and disrupted thiamine metabolism. It usually is administered intramuscularly. Taking the thiamine may not completely reverse all damage, but can prevent the progression of the disease. Also, a few lifestyle changes should be made, including a complete diet and refraining from heavy

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