How Long Does It Take to Develop Wet Brain?

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment

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How long does it take to develop wet brain? This is a common question that hints at the brain disorder lurking under the surface, better known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), which impacts both memory and physical health. The timeline doesn’t look the same for everyone, but alcohol abuse can contribute to its acceleration.

Wernicke encephalopathy starts with a lack of energy, low blood pressure, coordination problems, and vision issues. If left untreated, it will turn into Korsakoff’s psychosis with memory loss, hallucinations, and difficulty with executive function. Both can be treated with vitamin B1 drips and are identified using magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose Healing Center offers a safe space for you to quit chronic alcohol misuse that can lead to WKS in the long run. Our accredited program is safe and proven effective. Keep reading to learn more about Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and the risk it poses to your mental and physical health.

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Typical Signs of Developing Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

If you have concerns about developing wet brain syndrome, it’s important to know the clinical signs and conditions that put you at risk. Knowing what to look for in this syndrome is crucial to intervention and immediate treatment to lessen long-term impacts. But what exactly is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?

Most researchers acknowledge that there is a two-pronged effect to this treatment. For the most part, it’s caused by excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time. Research indicates that this wet brain condition may be undiagnosed in as many as 80 percent of patients.

How does it develop with continued alcohol addiction, and what should you watch out for?

Wernicke’s Disease from Excessive Alcohol Abuse

Wernicke's Disease from Excessive Alcohol Abuse

The first part of the diagnosis is Wernicke’s disease, which can lead to some of the same symptoms of alcohol use disorder, making it hard to diagnose. Symptoms mirror some neurological disorders with an emphasis on confusion and lack of motor skills. A full list of symptoms can include:

Lack of energy, lethargy, and fatigue
Hypothermia and low blood pressure
Coordination issues impacting balance and posture
Tremors
Vision issues or problems with the eyes
Coma

These conditions might be reversible if you catch them early enough. They will require a correction to a thiamine deficiency that comes from chronic alcohol misuse. Muscle coordination and vision problems often respond first, but the other can come back to normal more slowly. If it’s too far gone, it may be an irreversible situation.

Korsakoff’s Psychosis from Alcohol Misuse

Over time, your Wernicke’s disease can transform into Korsakoff’s psychosis, and you would earn the moniker of the full Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. They have some overlap in symptoms, but there are some more serious brain conditions associated with Korsakoff’s psychosis.

Some of the symptoms and signs can include:

Severe impairment in memory and inability to form new memories
Making up stories about events or incorrect memories
Hallucinations
Repeating certain words or actions over and over again
Issues with decision-making and executive function
No motivation and emotional apathy

Diagnosing Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome with Your Doctor

Diagnosing Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

A step that is vital to making sure that your condition is as reversible as possible is to get Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome diagnosed as early as possible. If the nutritional deficiencies and brain differences are left untreated alongside prolonged alcohol abuse, the case may be much harder to treat.

There is a possibility of permanent memory loss and brain disorders.

So, how should your doctor handle a potential case of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS)? There are a few tests they can do to determine the extent of the damage and come up with a treatment plan to reverse the symptoms.

Detailed Personal History of Alcohol Addiction, Eating Disorders, and More

The first thing that a doctor who suspects this “wet brain” syndrome will do is to take a very detailed and honest assessment regarding your nutrition. One reason WKS develops is due to a very low B1 deficiency, which can occur in both alcohol use disorder and eating disorders.

If a clinician pinpoints why you have a B1 deficiency leading to more serious symptoms, they can then develop a treatment and nutritional plan to combat alcohol withdrawals and that addresses that complication. There are other extenuating circumstances that can lead to WKS, but alcohol abuse is the most common path.

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MRI Scans to Show Brain Damage from Alcohol Use

Wernicke encephalopathy is best shown through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to prove what a clinician may suspect after taking a detailed history that includes alcohol use disorder. The MRI will show if there has been a structural change in the brain due to thiamine deficiency.

In particular, MRIs will show edema and inflammation of the brain. Specifically, doctors should be looking at the periaqueductal and periventricular gray matter, collicular bodies, and thalamus on the screen where images appear.

If left untreated, the MRI might then be used to survey for Korsakoff syndrome. It shows that brain tissue is shrinking and brain structures are actually atrophying.

If you’re diagnosed with WKS, you may receive regular MRIs to track the progression of the disease and to evaluate how nutritional supplementations and sobriety can change the structures of the brain. The exact structures affected in the MRI can dictate which course of treatment should be pursued for WKS.

How to Treat Alcoholic Dementia with WKS

Treat Alcoholic Dementia with WKS

You have gotten your diagnosis, and now you want to know: How is your Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome treated? It doesn’t matter if you struggle with chronic alcohol misuse or anorexia nervosa; if you have the symptoms of WKS, it is a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment.

Treating Wernicke Encephalopathy with Alcohol Use Disorder

A doctor who has all of the facts and images on file may prescribe an IV drip of vitamin B1 and glucose that the body requires.

They can also treat some of the symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as needed. A doctor can assess you for treatment for low blood pressure and even psychosis.

Treating Alcohol Dementia with Korsakoff’s Psychosis

Once the Wernicke encephalopathy morphs into Korsakoff’s psychosis, there is less that a clinician can offer in the way of permanent treatments. Much of the damage is irreversible, but they can try their best to arrest its progression and prevent further damage.

The approach is more scattershot, treating most of the symptoms rather than hitting right at the target.

Like Wernicke’s, you may be treated with intravenous B1 drips and oral supplements for proper nutrition and hydration long-term. Medications may be prescribed to treat the symptoms, even if they don’t roll back the clock on the surfacing of those events as a whole.

Memory rehabilitation therapies are often used at this stage. Severe cases may require a residential situation to help with memory loss and the day-to-day care needed for WKS.

Getting Help for Alcohol Withdrawal at Purpose Healing Center

If you start to experience mental confusion and any of the wet brain symptoms here, it’s time to get your drinking under control. Even if you don’t think your WKS is related to drinking but rather to poor diet, you still need help from a team of professionals.

Purpose Healing Center offers help for alcohol addiction and drug use disorders that can make it hard for your body to absorb thiamine properly. We’ll work with you as closely as we can. Is your Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome reversible? The good news is that it may be if you get help as soon as possible.

Residential Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Perhaps the best thing you can do for wet brain development is to enroll in a program that will monitor you around the clock. Not only does this keep you safe from turning to the booze that got you into this mess, but it also allows us to ensure that your brain disorders don’t worsen.

Once you achieve a sense of stability and are ready to make that transition home, you can segue into a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program for a more prolonged period with more freedom.

Recovery requires a long-term approach to ensure that you get what you need following excessive alcohol use. We can keep you safe from yourself for as long as it takes for you to gain confidence.

24/7 Access to Clinical Help

Unfortunately, alcohol intoxication often leads to withdrawal symptoms that can make people pretty uncomfortable in the beginning. When you entrust your care to us, we are here for you whenever you need us–anytime of the day or night. Our clinicians are always on, so you have help for both medical and psychiatric needs.

If you have an uncomfortable symptom that we can help with medication, it’s right at your fingertips. If you need to talk to someone about an intense craving, they’re available to meet your needs.

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Reserve Your Spot and Get Sober at Purpose Healing Center

Whether you think that you have a vitamin B1 deficiency leading to WKS or just know that your drinking is out of control, Purpose Healing Center is here for you. We offer accredited care at all levels so that we can meet you where you are and support you the right way.

Our enrollment team is always here to answer your questions and help you reserve a spot in our robust treatment program. With a quick, confidential phone call, we can even verify insurance benefits and talk you through your options.

Reach out to us today to learn more about our 24/7 residential care!