07/07/2024
WHAT IS WET BRAIN?
Wet Brain is a term used to describe Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome — a kind of brain damage that results from a lack of Vitamin B — specifically Thiamine. It is a serious medical condition that is very common for long term alcohol abusers. [adapted from Zinnia Health]
Cause: People with alcoholism commonly make poor dietary and lifestyle choices which leaves their body with a shortage of nutrients. In addition, alcohol inflames the lining of the stomach which makes it difficult for the body to absorb any nutrients. Ordinarily, Thiamine helps the body use nutrients to generate energy so without it the body becomes more and more vitamin deprived.
SYMPTOMS OF WET BRAIN:
Wet Brain has two stages — Wernicke encephalopathy followed by Korsakoff psychosis. These are technically considered two different conditions but someone with wet brain will develop both, so they can be considered two stages of one condition.
STAGE 1 — WERNICKE ENCEPHALOPATHY (WE):
WE is the first stage of wet brain that is caused by bleeding in the brain. It’s symptoms are:
Trouble with balance.
Irregular eye movements.
Poor Reflexes.
Rapid Heart Beat.
Poor Coordination.
Low Body Temperature.
Weakness in the muscles
Trouble walking
Confusion or fogginess.
Very few people will demonstrate all these symptoms, and some people will have only one symptom which can make WE very difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, WE is very short-lived which is why 80-90% of alcoholics who develop WE will get Korsakoff’s.
STAGE 2 — KORSAKOFF PSYCHOSIS (KP):
KP is the second stage of Wet Brain. Its effects are very serious and will be permanent if not treated early and properly. Symptoms are:
Trouble learning new things.
Hallucinations.
Forgetful and easily frustrated.
Poor coordination and balance skills.
Trouble walking properly (due to balance and coordination problems).
Vision deterioration.
Mental confusion and being frequently disoriented.
Anterograde Amnesia: The inability to form new memories
Confabulation: Inventing or making up events and things to compensate for the inability to form new memories
A noticeable change in personality:
People can become more anxious or depressed or angry.
Diagnosis: If you suspect that you or someone you love has either of the conditions mentioned above, go to a medical facility immediately and order a blood test. Wet brain is a very serious medical condition and a medical visit should not be delayed.
Treatment: Wernicke’s encephalopathy may be treatable with thiamine and other vitamin supplements, drinking less alcohol, and changes in diet that include more vitamins and nutrients. In fact, making these changes will reverse the effects of WE and prevent you from getting Korsakoff Psychosis.
But once WE progresses to Korsakoff’s, the symptoms have a high risk of being permanent.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE WET BRAIN:
Go to a Medical Practitioner or hospital: Order a blood test and say you are concerned that you may have Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrom (aka Wet Brain). The doctor will ask if you are a heavy drinker.
Medically supervised detoxification. Part of the treatment for wet brain is no alcohol. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction they should never stop drinking suddenly without medical supervision.
