Alcoholism and Vitamin Deficiency (Part 2)
What is the mechanism in the brain that causes Korsakoff’s?
The symptoms mentioned above are caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 or thiamine. This is thought to cause damage to the medial thalamus of the brain as well as damaging parts of the hypothalamus. In addition, thiamine deficiency can lead to an overall cerebral atrophy. This disorder involves neuronal loss, or damage to the neurons. In addition, gliosis can occur which is damage to the cells which support the central nervous system. The lack of thiamine and malnutrition can lead to the hippocampus decaying, leaving holes that cause ones short term memory to transfer into long term memory (see anterograde amnesia).
How is Korsakoff’s treated?
As the individual is lacking thiamine, treatment takes place by replacing the missing vitamin. Thiamine is replaced by intramuscular or intravenous injection. In addition, the proper nutrition or hydration is required. Irregardless of how much of the thiamine is replaced, the amnesia and brain damage that are caused by the disease do not respond to thiamine replacement. Even if treatment is successful, it often takes two years for some sign of recovery. In cases where recovery is achieved, it is slow and may not be complete.
Prevention of Korsakoff’s
The best way to avoid this syndrome is by making sure that a thiamine deficiency does not result. As the most common cause of thiamine deficiency in the Western world is alcoholism it should be quite clear that alcohol in excess should be avoided. It should be made clear that this deficiency does not result in an absence of thiamine in the diet, but rather a resistance on part of the body to properly absorb the nutrients. Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach and the intestines which is where nutrients are soaked in. At one point in time, thiamine was added to alcoholic beverages; however, it did not assist alcoholics. The addition of alcohol has been blocked by the U.S. governments as some political groups attest that adding thiamine to alcohol would further encourage excess drinking.
In addition to the effects of thiamine deficiency, alcohol is neurotoxic which means with time, the neurons (part of the brains framework and ‘communication’ system) can become damaged; specifically focusing on the hippocampus. This is the area responsible for short term memory and spatial thinking. When one consumes alcohol, the body releases cortisol, a stress hormone. In excess, it has been found that cortisol cause further damages to the hippocampus which may be irreversible if present for a long period of time. Using alcohol in moderation will not cause Korskoff, however, continued use can cause all of the effects mentioned above including dementias. This may give one something to think about before picking up that first or second glass of wine, or bottle of beer.
