Korsakoff Syndrome: A Chronic Nutritional Deficiency Neuropsychiatric condition

Abstract

In this review we have focused on Korsakoff syndrome, which is an aftermath of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE). Wernicke-Encephalopathy is neuropathologically marked by thiamine or vitamin B1 deficiency, typically induced by excessive alcohol use over an extended period of time in alcoholic patients, while in Nonalcoholic patients, it may be due to impaired utilization or accelerated usage of thiamine. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) affects the brain region such as the mammillary bodies, periaqueductal and periventricular grey matter, colliculi bodies, and thalamus. The classic triads of WE are ophthalmoplegia, Nystagmus, and ataxia. The brain is examined using MRI and shows damage to the nuclei or memory transit- papez circuit that connects mamillary bodies to the anterior thalamus using the mammillothalamic tract responsible for the recollective memory in the diencephalon. Patients can be treated by parenteral thiamine administration and by abstinence of alcohol within their lifestyle. Keywords: Korsakoff Syndrome, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, Alzheimer's, memory-loss Wernicke encephalopathy, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome