Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Words: 1430

Pages: 6

Open Document

Alcohol is one of the most widely used recreational drugs in the world. The use of alcohol as a substance dates back many centuries. Archeological discoveries of Stone Age jugs may suggest that the intentional fermentation of beverages existed as early as the Neolithic period. An alcoholic drink is categorised as a liquid that contains a substantial quantity of ethanol. Throughout history alcohol has been used in religious ceremonies, for medicinal purposes and in social events. Some people develop a dependency on alcohol and the generic term used to label people is as an alcoholic. The label ‘alcoholic’ refers to a person that consumes large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis. This can thus lead to a condition referred to as Alcohol …show more content…
WKS consists of two separate syndromes, one which is a severe, short–lived condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and the other a long–lasting, debilitating condition known as Korsakoff’s psychosis (Victor 1989). In order to treat Wernicke’s encephalopathy, thiamine doses must be administered daily, however if the person is hypoglycaemic and is required to administer glucose, then thiamine must be given concurrently as the glucose will rapidly consume the remaining thiamine reserves thus enhancing the …show more content…
It is thought the closer a persons genetic relationship, the more likely they are to develop an addiction. However this could be criticised as families share a common environment so it may no be solely down to genes. Monozygotic twins are often used in experiments as they have identical genes (Nurnberger 2002). If Alcohol use disorder is due to genetic factors MZ twins would be expected to have a higher concordance rate than Dizygotic twins (Bucholz 1994). Evidence has shown that male twins who have been adopted whose biological parents had an Alcohol use disorder have an increased risk of developing an addiction themselves, even if they are raised away form there parents (Reich 1998). This suggests that genetic factors play a role in

Unit 18 M1

mental disorders • F1 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of psychoactive substances • F2 Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders • F3 Mood disorders • F4 Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders • F5 Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors • F6 Disorders of personality and behaviour in adult persons • F7 Mental retardation • F8 Disorders of psychological development • F9 Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset…

Words 745 - Pages 3

water sol vitamins Essay

part of coenzyme TPP (thiamin pyrophosphate) promotes conversion of pyruvate to Acetyl CoA Occupies a special site on the membrane of nerve cells Muscles depend heavily on thiamin Deficiencies: (rare in US) Homeless and alcoholics Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Heavy alochol consumptionm Beriberi Food sources Major diet contributors White bread, crackers, pork, hot dogs, luncheon meats, ready to eat cereals, orange juice Nutrient dense foods Pork products, sunflower seeds, legumes, wheat…

Words 1048 - Pages 5

Drugs & Alcohol Abuse Essay

alcohol, the brain starts to speeds up. One of the questions the people ask themselves is, Does alcohol kill brain cells? Which the answer is yes, but only when large quantities have been consumed over many years. Many people suffer from “Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome” (Erickson, Carlton K. 122). Which symptoms are amnesia, confusion and dementia. However, social drinking does not kill brain cells. As a result, the effects are totally reversible. Scientists thought alcohol “melted the nerve membrane…

Words 990 - Pages 4

Essay on Manifestations of Dementia

Manifestations of Dementia Melinda Godfrey GNUR543 St. John Fisher College Mrs. Yowell is a 90-year-old woman who is a resident of a long-term care facility. She was alert and mentally quite capable until about a year ago when she began to manifest signs and symptoms of dementia. A review of her medical records failed to document a thorough analysis of her dementia, but a diagnosis of “probable Alzheimer disease” was recorded. What are the common manifestations of dementia? The definition…

Words 1342 - Pages 6

Minimum Drinking Age

Minimum Drinking Age What is more important: saving lives or having fun? It is said in the article “Drinking Age is 21 for a Reason” that, “Teen drinking results in more than 4,700 deaths per year, which is more than all illegal drugs combined” That is 4,700 deaths that wouldn’t occur if teens were not drinking and driving. Some people believe that the minimum drinking age should be lowered because they think if teens have the right to vote and join the military at 18, then they should be able to…

Words 1662 - Pages 7

Essay On Malnutrition

Nutritional deficiencies or known as malnutrition is a condition of imbalance intake of nutrients in daily life. Generally, malnutrition refers to two types of groups which is ‘undernutrition’ and ‘overnutrition’. Undernutrition refers to those who are underweight and are lacking from the intake of nutrient or energy in daily food intake. This condition leads to underweight, stunting (height below than age), wasting (weight low than height) and micronutrient (lack of vitamins and minerals). Overnutrition…

Words 2146 - Pages 9

Neurology Glossary Essay

1/31/2015 Student Resource Glossary Glossary Chapter 5 Adrenocorticotropic A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that mediates the release of hormones from the hormone (ACTH) adrenal cortex. Increased and decreased secretions of ACTH have been associated with a various disorders and disease states. Afferent nerves (sensory nerves) Convey incoming messages from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system. Agyria A congenital disorder in which the normal gyri and sulci of the brain fail to develop…

Words 2831 - Pages 12