AI Article Synopsis

  • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) includes Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis, both linked to thiamine deficiency, which affects the body's ability to utilize carbohydrates.
  • Thiamine deficiency can arise from genetic factors or conditions like alcoholism and often leads to symptoms that are similar to other neurological disorders, making WKS difficult to diagnose.
  • Timely diagnosis and treatment of Wernicke encephalopathy are crucial to prevent the severe memory loss associated with Korsakoff psychosis, and this review highlights research on the causes, identification, and treatment options for these conditions.

Article Abstract

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff psychosis (KP), together termed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), are distinct yet overlapping neuropsychiatric disorders associated with thiamine deficiency. Thiamine pyrophosphate, the biologically active form of thiamine, is essential for multiple biochemical pathways involved in carbohydrate utilization. Both genetic susceptibilities and acquired deficiencies as a result of alcoholic and non-alcoholic factors are associated with thiamine deficiency or its impaired utilization. WKS is underdiagnosed because of the inconsistent clinical presentation and overlapping of symptoms with other neurological conditions. The identification and individualized treatment of WE based on the etiology is vital to prevent the development of the amnestic state associated with KP in genetically predisposed individuals. Through this review, we bring together the existing data from animal and human models to expound the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions for WE and KP.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2018-0075DOI Listing

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