Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: Year of the Zebra

A vast interconnected system such as the internet would not be able to perform properly if every router in the network had a missing component. Similarly, our nervous system can malfunction in several ways when its cells are missing a crucial component called Thiamine or vitamin B1. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome actually refers to a series of different syndromes. Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which is usually reversible, can progress to the mostly permanent Korsakoff Syndrome if left untreated or not treated fast enough. Symptoms include mental status changes such as dementia, vision disturbances, and walking anomalies. Individuals who have poor nutrition for any reason are at risk. The most common social factor incriminated is chronic alcohol abuse, but others include malabsorption syndromes and mental disorders. There is sparse solid data about the number of individuals affected. To learn more about the mechanisms involved in Wernicke-Korsakoff, watch the video above.