Predisposing Factors Korsakoff’s syndrome is a substance induced neurocognitive disorder, that is, through the use of a substance, in this case primarily, but not exclusive to alcohol, proper brain function is inhibited causing deficits in memory, thinking, and the ability to store and recall information (Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2013). The severity of neurocognitive disorders, on a spectrum from mild to major, depends upon the amount of damage as well as the location of damage due to the fact that different brain areas function in different ways (Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2013). Korsakoff ’s syndrome is a disorder that persists from a lack of or low levels of thiamine, vitamin B1, in one’s system that results in permanent memory loss (Nevid,
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This means that the stated prevalence of Korsakoff’s syndrome does not really reflect the true prevalence of the disorder. Since Korsakoff’s syndrome is not exclusive to chronic alcoholics, children can also suffer from Korsakoff’s syndrome due to malnutrition, cancer, starvation, and among other reasons that do not involve alcohol. This disorder can also occur in the elderly from the nature of their age, however, is not limited to their age, but other illnesses (Harper, 2005). Overall, Korsakoff’s syndrome can occur from a predisposition due to genetics, such as Type 2 Alcoholism, defects for function of necessary enzyme systems (abnormal function of thiamine pyrophosphate important for 3 enzymes for glucose breakdown (Isenberg-Grzeda, Kutner & Nicolson, 2012), or cancer, or environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, starvation, malnutrition, Type 1 Alcoholism, or again, cancer. It is not limited to one age group, although those who are chronic alcoholics, adults, seem to suffer from the disorder the most. Additionally, individuals who are of low socioeconomic status seem to also increase the prevalence of Korsakoff’s syndrome because they are unable to obtain enough sources of thiamine. The risk of the disorder may depend on a …show more content…
The symptoms of this disorder usually become apparent when there is less than 20% of the normal level of thiamine. The change in mental state means that an individual may have symptoms of disorientation, drowsiness, lack of care, speech impairments, nervousness, fear, amnesia, ataxia, and eye movement impairments like ophthalmoplegia. (Isenberg-Grzeda, Kutner & Nicolson, 2012). Specific memory impairments such as confabulation, retrograde amnesia, and anterograde amnesia are likely to occur from resulting brain damage (Butters & Cermak, 1980). However, Korsakoff’s syndrome is likely to go undiagnosed because these symptoms are common symptoms of other disorders (Isenberg-Grzeda, Kutner & Nicolson, 2012). One profound memory loss symptom of this disorder is anterograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia means that an affected individual cannot form new memories (Butters & Cermak, 1980). Anterograde amnesia usually affects different areas of the brain such as the cerebellum (important for motor learning), prefrontal cortex (important for working memory), and temporal lobes (important for declarative memory and forming connections of new information for consolidation) (Gazzaniga, Heatherton & Halpern, 2011). Another symptom of memory loss includes retrograde amnesia (Butters & Cermak, 1980). Retrograde amnesia is when individuals are not able to recall past events they learned that
This means that the stated prevalence of Korsakoff’s syndrome does not really reflect the true prevalence of the disorder. Since Korsakoff’s syndrome is not exclusive to chronic alcoholics, children can also suffer from Korsakoff’s syndrome due to malnutrition, cancer, starvation, and among other reasons that do not involve alcohol. This disorder can also occur in the elderly from the nature of their age, however, is not limited to their age, but other illnesses (Harper, 2005). Overall, Korsakoff’s syndrome can occur from a predisposition due to genetics, such as Type 2 Alcoholism, defects for function of necessary enzyme systems (abnormal function of thiamine pyrophosphate important for 3 enzymes for glucose breakdown (Isenberg-Grzeda, Kutner & Nicolson, 2012), or cancer, or environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, starvation, malnutrition, Type 1 Alcoholism, or again, cancer. It is not limited to one age group, although those who are chronic alcoholics, adults, seem to suffer from the disorder the most. Additionally, individuals who are of low socioeconomic status seem to also increase the prevalence of Korsakoff’s syndrome because they are unable to obtain enough sources of thiamine. The risk of the disorder may depend on a …show more content…
The symptoms of this disorder usually become apparent when there is less than 20% of the normal level of thiamine. The change in mental state means that an individual may have symptoms of disorientation, drowsiness, lack of care, speech impairments, nervousness, fear, amnesia, ataxia, and eye movement impairments like ophthalmoplegia. (Isenberg-Grzeda, Kutner & Nicolson, 2012). Specific memory impairments such as confabulation, retrograde amnesia, and anterograde amnesia are likely to occur from resulting brain damage (Butters & Cermak, 1980). However, Korsakoff’s syndrome is likely to go undiagnosed because these symptoms are common symptoms of other disorders (Isenberg-Grzeda, Kutner & Nicolson, 2012). One profound memory loss symptom of this disorder is anterograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia means that an affected individual cannot form new memories (Butters & Cermak, 1980). Anterograde amnesia usually affects different areas of the brain such as the cerebellum (important for motor learning), prefrontal cortex (important for working memory), and temporal lobes (important for declarative memory and forming connections of new information for consolidation) (Gazzaniga, Heatherton & Halpern, 2011). Another symptom of memory loss includes retrograde amnesia (Butters & Cermak, 1980). Retrograde amnesia is when individuals are not able to recall past events they learned that