It's often underdiagnosed, even among chronic alcoholics. This is because the wet brain symptoms of this part of the condition may not necessarily be obvious. Doctors use MRIs to detect this part of the condition.
There's no single, universal test to diagnose wet brain. However, doctors may suspect thiamine deficiency or malnutrition based on physical appearance. Heart rate, eye movements, body temperature, and even a person's walk could all signal a doctor to a possible thiamine deficiency.
MR imaging is valuable in the diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy particularly in patients presenting with atypical clinical symptoms, or with no history of alcohol abuse.
Signs of wet brain can differ depending on the stage of the disorder. In the first of the wet brain stages, known as Wernicke's encephalopathy, symptoms can include confusion, disorientation, changes in vision and abnormal eye movements. If left untreated, these symptoms can progress to coma and death.
MRI findings in the acute stage of WE include bilateral T2 hyperintensity in the mammillary bodies, medial thalami hypothalamus, and periaqueductal gray matter with variable restricted diffusion on DWI in the corresponding areas and enhancement of the mammillary bodies on postcontrast imaging.
What tests help diagnose Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? Your healthcare provider may recommend blood tests to check blood sugar and thiamine levels. Healthcare providers often check for signs of alcohol use disorder with a blood alcohol test and liver function test. A common sign of this condition is liver damage.
Although chronic alcoholic patients are the most commonly affected, Wernicke's encephalopathy may complicate malnutrition conditions in nonalcoholic patients, in whom it is greatly underestimated. CT and above all MRI of the brain play a fundamental role in diagnosing the condition and ruling out other diseases.
Approximately 80% of people with the first stage of wet brain will go on to develop Korsakoff's psychosis. During the early stage, a person may exhibit these symptoms: Confusion and ataxia. Memory problems.
Life expectancy Wet brain, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is highly variable. One study found over 50% of patients diagnosed with the condition are expected to die within 8 years.
First there will be a brief time when a person has intense inflammation (swelling) of their brain. This is known as 'Wernicke's encephalopathy'. If this condition isn't treated quickly, the person may develop a more long-term condition called 'Korsakoff's syndrome'. This has many of the same symptoms of dementia.
MRI gives very detailed pictures of soft tissues like the brain. Air and hard bone do not give an MRI signal so these areas appear black.
Some of the conditions a brain MRI can help diagnose or monitor include: A blood clot in your brain. Brain aneurysm. Brain hemorrhage.
Cranial nerve dysfunctions may be the result of pathological processes of the cranial nerve itself or be related to tumors, inflammation, infectious processes, or traumatic injuries of adjacent structures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard in the study of the cranial nerves.
Thiamine deficiency is particularly important because it can exacerbate many of the other processes by which alcohol induces brain injury, as described in other articles in this issue of Alcohol Research & Health.
Consistent nausea or vomiting. Confusion. Fatigue or exhaustion. Sudden and noticeable decrease in mental acuity.
Conclusion. People hospitalized with alcohol use disorder have an average life expectancy of 47–53 years (men) and 50–58 years (women) and die 24–28 years earlier than people in the general population.
Left untreated, wet brain will continue to worsen and can be life-threatening. Vision difficulties and issues with balance can lead to dangerous falls and head injuries. Permanent memory loss and cognitive deficits can lead to permanent disability and shortened lifespan.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), sometimes referred to as wet brain, is a brain disorder related to the acute and chronic phases of a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. Thiamine depletion is seen in individuals with poor nutrition and is a common complication of long-term, heavy drinking.
Progression of symptoms is usually gradual, continuing over months or years [2, 4]. Electrophysiologic and pathologic findings mainly indicate axonal neuropathy with reduced nerve fibre densities.
B vitamins (ie, folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine) may be useful in selected cases to reduce the toxicity of alcohol metabolites.
Another form of ARD is known as wet brain (Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome), characterized by short-term memory loss and thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. ARD patients often have symptoms of both forms, i.e. impaired ability to plan, apathy, and memory loss. ARD may occur with other forms of dementia (mixed dementia).
On imaging, it is commonly seen on MRI as areas of symmetrical increased T2/FLAIR signal involving the mammillary bodies, dorsomedial thalami, tectal plate, periaqueductal area and/or around the third ventricle.
CT Scan. CT scans use X-rays and computer imaging to create detailed pictures of the brain. The doctor may use this test to identify if the ventricles are enlarged, indicating cerebrospinal fluid buildup.
A scan of the brain can help show whether you have encephalitis or another problem such as a stroke, brain tumour or brain aneurysm (a swelling in an artery). The 2 main types of scan used are: a CT scan. an MRI scan.