NARRATIVE REVIEW OF WERNICKE-KORSAKOFF SYNDROME

Abstract

A severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency is the cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), a dangerous neuropsychiatric condition that is most frequently linked to long-term alcohol abuse and starvation. It is typically described as a combination of Korsakoff syndrome, a persistent memory illness characterized by severe amnesia and confabulation, and Wernicke encephalopathy, an acute and possibly reversible confusional state with ocular symptoms and ataxia. Early detection and timely thiamine replacement are crucial since untreated WKS can result in long-term incapacity, severe cognitive impairment, and irreversible brain damage.