Common Causes Of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

A blend of Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a neurological disorder of the brain that happens due to the absence of the essential vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 is often referred to as thiamine, which is essential for the synthesis of glucose into energy, particularly for the brain. Without thiamine, the part of the brain called the hypothalamus is starved of energy, causing the functions of the pituitary gland, such as hormone secretion, metabolism, and mammillary bodies, to become impaired. Symptoms that manifest with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome are mainly cognitive and include a decline in short term memory, amnesia, and mental disorientation.