Your body can’t produce thiamine on its own—it has to be ingested through your diet. This is typically a non-issue for most healthy adults (think whole grains, asparagus, kale, pork, beef, chicken, eggs and potatoes). Those who struggle with alcohol use disorder, though, are at risk of thiamine deficiency. Instead of eating a balanced diet, many alcoholics drink their calories, depriving their bodies of essential vitamins. In other cases, an alcohol-induced inflammation of the stomach lining reduces the body’s ability to absorb vitamins. Other factors such as poor diet can also lower thiamine levels and lead to worsened symptoms.
How Does Wet Brain Occur?
- Fetal alcohol syndrome is also a condition that occurs due to alcohol exposure before birth.
- While anyone can develop the disorder, people who consume alcohol are more likely to develop the condition.
- It’s a term used for certain symptoms that can affect your ability to think.
- Have you ever experienced the feeling of brain fog, where you could barely remember anything, or you found it hard to concentrate on a task?
For heavy drinkers, these seemingly innocent memory lapses can evolve to slurred speech, an unsteady walk, violent muscle twitches or hallucinations, signaling alcohol-induced brain damage. If left untreated, the damage can progress to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. Some of the most common neurological conditions caused by alcohol can include dementia, polyneuropathy, and cerebellar degeneration.
Wet Brain Treatment
Depending on the severity of brain fog, it can interfere with your work, school, or other daily tasks. Some former alcohol abusers show permanent damage to the hippocampus, a brain region that regulates long-term memory and spatial navigation, and only partial resolution of lesions on the white matter. The question remains, however, whether such extensive damage can be reversed after abstaining from alcohol. Researchers have studied the effects of abstinence on the brains of alcohol-dependent individuals by comparing subjects recovering from years of alcohol abuse with those who do not drink or drink minimally.
What Is Brain Fog?
It is possible to have a normal conversation with someone with Korsakoff syndrome, but that person will probably not remember the conversation an hour or two later. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (wet brain syndrome) is a neurological condition that consists of two different syndromes. With our WellTheory 1-1 coaching membership you can receive a personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan to support your needs. Have you ever experienced the feeling of brain fog, where https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you could barely remember anything, or you found it hard to concentrate on a task?
Can Wet Brain Be Reversed?
- If you’re finding it hard to focus, feel a bit low and have a memory like a sieve, chances are you need a break – a screen break.
- Doctors often struggle to diagnose wet brain as well since symptoms can resemble other conditions.
- Take the first step toward recovery, and speak with a representative of The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake today.
- So, what—exactly—is a “wet brain?” According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is really two different disorders.
- “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot reflected on her life-threatening pregnancy journey in an emotional social media post.
- The first is known as Wernicke encephalopathy, and treatment (if done immediately and properly) is still generally effective during this stage of the disease.
This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including a severe thiamine deficiency. Your body needs thiamine for your brain and metabolism to function properly. If a person mush brain develops wet brain, they may experience problems with memory, coordination, and heart rate, among others. If you are struggling with a drinking problem, talk to your doctor about treatment options that can help you achieve sobriety. Therefore, people with other medical conditions can develop Korsakoff psychosis if they have an insufficient intake of thiamine. “Mush brain,” “mush brain alcohol” and “wet brain” are unfamiliar terms to many people.
How Can You Prevent Wet Brain From Happening?
As such, we recommend that the term “wet brain” be avoided in favor of the more accurate “Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.” Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, also commonly referred to as wet brain, is a serious brain disorder that can be life-threatening if not caught early and properly treated. Sandstone Care supports teens and young adults with mental health and substance use disorders. Besides, the onset of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Substance abuse symptom severity is not considered to be a direct relation to how much or what kind of alcohol a person drinks over their lifetime.
- People who use alcohol heavily over a prolonged period of time are most at risk of developing wet brain.
- The symptoms of wet brain vary based on whether it is in the early, reversible stage or in the later, permanent stage.
- Without thiamine, the brain can’t process glucose, robbing the brain of energy (and functioning).
Someone’s overall health can also impact their chance of getting Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. There are two forms of wet brain syndrome called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis. With Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a person will develop neurological symptoms because the brain is suffering from lesions that form from a lack of adequate thiamine. Once the signs of the first part of the wet brain syndrome diminish, a person can develop the symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis.
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