What Is Wet Brain? Identifying Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

No one intends to develop an addiction, but it can occur without you realizing what is truly happening. Most people with Korsakoff’s psychosis cannot live independently, and their symptoms are likened to that of dementia. Knowing early signs and symptoms could be the wake-up call you need to get help for your drinking problem. Long-term successful recovery from alcohol addiction is possible through a medical detox and ongoing professional support. Many people, healthcare providers included, dismiss early signs of wet brain syndrome. Left untreated, long-term effects like muscle coordination, confusion, and hallucinations can develop.

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By Toketemu OhwovorioleToketemu has been multimedia storyteller for the last four years. Her expertise focuses primarily on mental wellness and women’s health topics. Chronic alcohol users often have inflamed digestive tracts, making it difficult for the body to absorb the thiamine it needs from the foods they consume. People with Korsakoff’s psychosis have increased difficulty with coordination and movement. They will also exhibit symptoms of retrograde amnesia and find it challenging to learn and process new information.

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Even if it seems like wet brain or alcohol use disorder is insurmountable, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel. Stopping alcohol use can prevent more loss of brain function and damage to nerves. A well-balanced, nourishing diet can help, but it is not a substitute for stopping alcohol use. But if wet brain syndrome (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) is suspected, treatment should start immediately. Additionally, our addiction counselors provide ongoing support through behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based practices. These therapeutic interventions aim to address the psychological aspects of addiction, helping patients develop healthier coping mechanisms and strategies to maintain sobriety.

Is Wet Brain Syndrome Reversible?

The goals of wet brain treatment are to control symptoms and to prevent the wet brain syndrome (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) from getting worse. Some people may need to stay in the hospital early in the condition to help control symptoms. Wet brain diagnosis will usually involve a series of tests including thiamine and other vitamin levels in the blood, CT or brain scans, liver function, and MRIs to measure for bleeding or tumors in the brain. Along with the results of these tests, cognitive and memory performance will also be measured to compare with the symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis individually. Untreated wet brain can lead to permanent brain damage that cannot be reversed. These impairments manifest themselves differently and affect various parts of the nervous system.

Untreated, it can result marijuana addiction in severe cognitive impairment, coordination issues, and hallucinations. Wet brain syndrome is determined by several factors, including how long a person has been drinking and how often they do it. But early detection can slow the progression of the disease and alleviate many symptoms. However, doctors may suspect thiamine deficiency or malnutrition based on physical appearance.

Wet Brain – Alcoholism and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

• Heavy alcohol consumption leads to thiamine deficiency for several reasons.
• It could also potentially prevent a severe, untreatable, and possibly fatal condition.
• However, ceasing alcohol consumption opens up potential recovery pathways.
• Long-term successful recovery from alcohol addiction is possible through a medical detox and ongoing professional support.

Though heavy alcohol use is a primary cause of Wet Brain, certain factors can increase vulnerability. While vitamin B1 supplements are the first-line treatment for wet brain, any underlying alcohol use disorder must be addressed for long-term recovery to be successful. The diagnosis of wet brain syndrome (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) is made by the history and clinical findings supplemented with lab studies showing thiamine deficiency. Prophylactic thiamine administration is relatively safe and should be started even if the diagnosis has not been confirmed 5. As the disorder progresses, other symptoms that may develop include agitation, anger, hallucinations, and confabulations.

Either Wernicke encephalopathy will transition into the second stage of wet brain and cause permanent brain damage, or it will be treated and resolved without causing damage. Wernicke encephalopathy can also lead to death and is considered the most dangerous stage of wet brain for quickly causing coma and death. Wet brain, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome caused by alcohol use, is a type of brain damage caused by low levels of thiamine. Also called vitamin B1, thiamine is an essential nutrient for brain health and has severe impacts on the brain when deficiencies occur. While thiamine deficiencies can occur from starvation, they are often caused by heavy alcohol use.

What Is Alcohol Addiction?

• Liver enzymes may be high in people with a history of long-term alcohol abuse.
• The three main symptoms of WE are mental confusion and apathy, loss of muscle coordination while standing or walking, and eye movement dysfunction or vision disturbances.
• This condition doesn’t just pop up overnight; it brews in the backdrop of ongoing alcohol abuse and poor nutrition.
• To prevent wet brain, individuals must address alcohol addiction and improve dietary deficiencies.
• Alcohol-related dementia is diagnosed when alcohol abuse is most likely to be the cause of the symptoms of dementia a person is experiencing.

Heavy alcohol consumption leads to thiamine deficiency mush brain for several reasons. It interferes with the absorption of thiamine in the intestine and depletes the liver’s stored thiamine. Additionally, people struggling with alcohol addiction often neglect a balanced diet. Plus, alcohol-induced stomach irritation can lead to vomiting or loss of appetite, further draining the body’s thiamine reserves. A thiamine deficiency can be caused by factors such as malnutrition, prolonged vomiting, eating disorders, and chemotherapy. However, in affluent countries, chronic alcohol abuse is the leading cause.

In more severe cases, a person may also experience severe confusion, hallucinations, or seizures. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when a person who has been drinking https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/writing-a-goodbye-letter-to-alcohol/ an excessive amount of alcohol regularly suddenly stops drinking. A medical-assisted detox can help a person safely withdraw from alcohol with proper supervision, medication, and a safe environment.