u/Kalkaline

We all know someone struggling with alcohol here, let's talk about some life altering stuff.

Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome can happen in a variety of circumstances, but alcohol abuse and withdrawal can be a big part of it. Alcohol reduces the body's ability to absorb thiamine (B1) which is necessary for turning sugars into energy for the brain. This leads to 3 major identifying symptoms:

Confusion.

Inability to coordinate voluntary movements (also known as ataxia).

Visual changes and additional eye problems.

If left untreated this leads to Korsakoff syndrome that has the symptoms of:

Amnesia or inability to form new memories. Behavioral changes, such as agitation or anger. Confabulation. Delirium and disorientation. Fatigue or lethargy. Hallucinations, especially in those withdrawing from alcohol. Lack of focus or attention. Unsteady gait.

These are life threatening syndromes and if caught early enough, there can be some recovery. Identifying these symptoms and getting emergency treatment is incredibly important and the person who experiences them may not have the wherewithal to seek treatment themselves.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22687-wernicke-korsakoff-syndrome

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470344/

Thanks for taking the moment to read this.