Alcoholic Dementia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Alcohol itself does not cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as much as the damage to the brain cells that takes place with a thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1). People with severe alcohol use disorder tend to have nutritional deficiencies from a poor diet. The purpose of this review is to give an overview about the dose- and pattern-related effects of alcohol on the risk https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of developing dementia, while trying to differentiate different neurodegenerative, vascular and other forms of dementia. The first part of the review will give an overview about alcohol effects on the central nervous system and summarize findings with different methodological approaches (biochemical methods, histopathological findings, animal models, neuroimaging).

Alcohol and dementia are strictly related in this case because too much alcohol prevents normal neurological functioning which leads to dementia, a serious brain condition that can affect people of all ages who abuse alcohol. In the long-term, chronic alcohol use increases the risk of permanent brain damage. You can avoid can alcoholism cause dementia short-term memory loss by removing alcohol from the equation. It is caused by a person regularly drinking too much alcohol, or binge-drinking, over several years. A 2019 review found a significant association between reducing a person’s alcohol consumption with a lower risk of cognitive impairments and dementia.

The Basics of Alcoholic Dementia and How to Identify It

Individuals may also be irritable, have sudden outbursts, and have issues with coordination and balance. Other factors that have links to the development of dementia may include infections, such as HIV or neurosyphilis, or thyroid disorders. It can reduce the size of the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Treatment typically involves the use of thiamine supplements in oral or injected forms. They may also need to live in assisted living housing if their symptoms are severe. In cases where they suspect Korsakoff syndrome, a doctor will likely recommend long-term use of thiamine, possibly combined with other vitamins and magnesium.

The alcoholism treatment consists of IV therapies and infusions which attempt to reestablish the proper nutritional balance of the body. Patients need to stay in clinics or hospitals for certain periods where they will be closely monitored and treated. Alcohol must be avoided at all costs during the treatment period, a thing which most alcohol abusers find very hard to do.

Treatment for alcoholic dementia

You can also join programs that teach you to move safely and prevent falls, which can lead to brain and other injuries. Check with your health care provider if you haven’t been active and want to start a vigorous exercise program. Research shows that a combination of these healthy lifestyle behaviors may also reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. A concise summary on how to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Many of the deficits caused by brain atrophy are similar to those seen in alcoholic dementia.