Understanding the Potential Risks of Developing Wet Brain

However, it is not well understood who has wet brain because of alcohol abuse or from poor nutrition. It is also not possible to accurately estimate who all has wet brain because many people with severe alcoholism do not seek treatment or are homeless and are not evaluated for the condition. However, current statistics show that more men than women have wet brain, and the age groups most affected by the disorder are between the ages of 30 and 70.

If someone develops a drinking problem, seeks treatment within a few years of the onset of their alcoholism, and remains sober, chances are they’re not at risk for developing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. On the other hand, chronic alcoholics, or those who consistently drink for many years and never enter alcohol rehab, are likely to suffer symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The level of https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/wet-mush-brain-from-alcoholism-symptoms-and-dangers/ brain damage that occurs with wet brain is directly correlated to how much and how often someone drinks. People who start problem drinking at young ages, and drink heavily will be at higher risk of developing wet brain than those who drink moderately or don’t develop alcoholism until they are older. Unfortunately, this is an unlikely scenario for people who reach this stage of alcoholism.

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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. While unsettling, the words are memorable short descriptors of a disease that can affect long-term alcoholics at some point in the trajectory of their addiction. Even if a person is diagnosed with wet brain, it may still be very difficult for them to abstain from consuming alcohol. This is especially true if the person is addicted to alcohol or physically dependent on it, which can be difficult for friends and family members to accept. It’s important to remember, however, that alcohol addiction is a chronic and powerful disease and the way an alcoholic behaves won’t always make sense to loved ones.

Up to 80% of those who survive the first stage of wet brain will go on to develop the symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis. Every part of the body needs thiamine to function, with some bodily systems using more of the vitamin than others. There are enzymes in the brain that need thiamine, including several critical neurotransmitters.

When was Mush Brain released?

Wet brain syndrome (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) is caused by nutritional deficiencies most commonly brought on by chronic heavy drinking. There are many non-prescription stimulants that can act as temporary treatment options for brain mush. A mush brain can be inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to get some important work done. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

But researchers are just starting to determine what changes permanently alter a woman’s brain. They believe it’s likely that your brain never quite returns to the way it was before having a baby – new connections and pathways are established that may change your brain forever (usually in a positive way!). Another strange change that researchers aren’t sure what to make of is that they have found male chromosomes in the brains of moms who have given birth to boys. The key to eliminating brain mush and improving cognitive functioning is to change your mental, emotional and physical state regularly. Although these two disorders share similarities involving memory and cognitive problems, people with early to moderate stage Korsakoff syndrome can still socialize and perform basic daily tasks.

Talking to a Family Member About Going to Rehab

The best way to avoid wet brain syndrome is to prevent it altogether by treating alcoholism before it reaches this point. What about heavy drinkers and those concerned about the physical and mental issues they’re beginning to experience from alcohol consumption? There’s no certainty that an alcoholic will develop Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. It is, however, more likely to occur with long-term alcoholics who’ve failed to get treatment for their addiction. A combination of Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome is diagnosed in alcoholics suffering a long-term, vitamin B deficiency and alcohol-induced damage to their brain.

Inpatient rehab is an intensive, residential treatment program that provides patients with 24/7 care and support in a safe and structured environment. We also offer medical detoxification for alcoholism, a critical component of treatment for alcoholism, as the withdrawal symptoms can be severe and potentially life-threatening. Our medical team closely monitors patients during detox and provides medication and other interventions as needed to ensure their comfort and safety. Wet brain syndrome is relatively rare in the general population, especially in developed countries such as the United States, where malnutrition is not a chronic or widespread issue. The disease arises mostly in alcoholics who have been drinking excessively for a prolonged period of time. In most cases, symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome are preceded by symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy.

Preventing Wet Brain Syndrome

Wet brain is the direct result of a lack of thiamine in the body, making it hard for the brain to process sugar into the energy it requires to function properly. People can develop wet brain for a number of reasons, either because they are suffering from cancer, a chronic infection or infections, or AIDS. People who don’t eat enough, are on extreme and dangerous diets, and/or have eating disorders like anorexia can also become thiamine deficient and develop wet brain. While thiamine deficiency can happen to people with poor diets, it is more common in those who drink heavily over the course of many years. Alcohol not only prevents the body from getting enough thiamine from a person’s diet, but alcohol use also depletes the body’s thiamine stores, which are held in the liver.

When an alcoholic suffers an acute lack of vitamin B1 too rapidly, the onset of Wernicke encephalopathy may be severe enough to demand emergency medical attention. Treatment for this condition is typically focused on controlling symptoms that already exist and preventing them from worsening over time. Unfortunately, it is not likely that symptoms that have already begun to form could be reversed.

Who is Most at Risk of Developing Wet Brain?

What can treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction do to stave off Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? The earlier someone seeks help for their drinking, the quicker they can resume a normal life. They’ll also have a greater likelihood of avoiding serious medical and psychological complications from alcoholism. This includes helping to prevent the development of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. After all, no one wants to suffer from mush brain or go through lingering mush brain alcohol effects. When someone drinks large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time, they can experience a form of permanent brain damage called wet brain.

Although Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome has a low prevalence of between 0.4 percent and nearly 3 percent, doctors believe this disease is frequently misdiagnosed or underreported. Studies have found that about four out of every 100 cases of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome were missed because the brain was not microscopically examined during an autopsy. Other studies discovered that between 22 percent and 29 percent of people diagnosed with general dementia were alcoholics. Nine out of 10 alcoholics (mostly men between 45 and 65 years of age) will eventually develop Korsakoff syndrome, also called Korsakoff psychosis. This is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by amnesia and behavioral abnormalities. Wet brain syndrome consists of the severe, short-lived Wernicke encephalopathy symptoms and the more debilitating, longer-lasting Korsakoff syndrome symptoms.