They may also notice problems in their central nervous system and extremities, like hands and feet. Vitamin B1 that is administered intravenously can provide quick treatment that may be able to reverse some of the neurological symptoms, such as vision problems and muscle coordination issues. If this lack of good nutrition continues for too long, serious health problems like wet brain syndrome become a risk.

Symptoms of Stage 2

We do everything in our power to help you succeed in breaking the cycle of addiction, and know that with the right kind of help, everyone is capable of healing. Contact us and we can begin the process of building a life worth living. At Carolina Center for Recovery and affiliates, we aim to provide readers with the most accurate and updated healthcare information possible. Our certified medical reviewers are licensed in the mental health and addiction medicine fields and are dedicated to helping readers and prospective clients make informed decisions about their treatment. We adhere to strict accuracy guidelines and only reference credible sources when providing information on our website. Unfortunately, because the effects of alcohol on the brain are so rarely talked about, many people don’t realize how important it is to seek treatment for Wet Brain when symptoms first start to appear.

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The first step in treating a wet brain is to attend a medical detox program for alcoholism. You will not recover from the symptoms of this condition if you are still drinking. While you are at the medical detox facility, doctors will diagnose you with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome if you meet the criteria. From there, they will begin administering thiamine infusions to solve your deficiency. While WKS is not curable once you develop the second stage of the condition, early detection can help treat symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. The long-term effects of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome range from difficulties in personal interactions and injuries due to loss of coordination to coma or even death.

Who is Most at Risk of Developing Wet Brain?

These symptoms may include leg tremors, decreased muscle coordination, and vision changes. Wet brain can progress in a specific pattern, or both Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome can develop together. However, the typical pattern that constitutes wet brain is the development of Wernicke encephalopathy followed by Korsakoff’s psychosis. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, early intervention is the best way to prevent the onset of wet brain. At Westwind Recovery®, we offer alcohol addiction treatment programs in our Los Angeles recovery center. Connect with a member of our team today or contact us online to learn more.

Wernicke’s syndrome can be life-threatening; the mortality rate is around 20 percent without prompt medical care. Symptoms may be reversible with early treatment, but diagnosis is often difficult. There is no specific test for this syndrome, and many times it isn’t discovered until an autopsy is done. Approximately 80-90% of patients with Wernicke’s Encephalopathy will go on to develop Korsakoff Psychosis. The nervous system needs these enzymes to function, which is why thiamine deficiency from alcohol causes life-threatening neurological problems. While we have been discussing the way that alcohol impact thiamine intake, there are other causes that may lead to a lower amount of Vitamin B12 in the body.

• Notably, Greek literature includes warnings about the dangers of excessive drinking, indicating an awareness of alcohol’s adverse effects.
• Your doctor will order tests to check your thiamine levels when attempting to diagnose wet brain.

Our admissions coordinators are standing by 24/7 to answer your questions, provide guidance, and schedule an initial assessment. Let us help you determine if our programs are the right fit to meet your needs. Contact Porch Light Health today and take the first step toward a brighter, healthier way of life. You have all the ingredients necessary to pursue a full life without addiction. In particular, your brain cells need thiamine to synthesize several other enzymes.

• Depending on the severity of the brain damage, some patients will need to have round-the-clock care.
• If you get proper medical care when you are in the early stages of wet brain syndrome, the symptoms can be reversed.
• This is why it’s so important to always seek treatment for alcohol abuse.
• People with this condition often struggle to form new memories, or experience long-term “gaps” in their recollection due to brain damage.

Finding Help for Long-Term Alcoholism

Despite its efficacy, an alcohol detox program on its own is not a solution for long-term sobriety. Continuing your addiction treatment with a drug and alcohol rehab program can help you develop the necessary life skills and coping strategies to maintain your sobriety. Even if a person is diagnosed with wet brain, it may still be very difficult for them to abstain from consuming alcohol. This is especially true if the person is addicted to alcohol or physically dependent on it, which can be difficult for friends and family members to accept.

When someone drinks large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time, they can experience a form of permanent brain damage called wet brain. Wet brain happens when a person is deficient in vitamin B1, or mush brain thiamine. The body needs adequate levels of thiamine, a water-soluble vitamin, for heart and nervous system function. Thiamine also helps the body maintain the right levels of glucose in the bloodstream.

• We adhere to strict accuracy guidelines and only reference credible sources when providing information on our website.
• Even if it seems like wet brain or alcohol use disorder is insurmountable, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel.
• Even if a person is diagnosed with wet brain, it may still be very difficult for them to abstain from consuming alcohol.
• Mostly, these neurological symptoms are related to memory problems.
• Common symptoms include memory loss, hallucinations, and general disorientation.
• If you have a history of AUD, or currently struggle with AUD, it helps to have your vitamin levels checked.

At Resurgence Behavioral Health, we can help you or your loved one stop drinking and remain in recovery for good through our integrated detox and rehab programs. Issues such as AIDS, cancer, chronic infections, kidney dialysis, anorexia, and the inability of the body to absorb nutrients from food may eventually evolve into alcohol dementia/wet brain. This therapy helps identify the underlying emotional causes behind a drinking problem, thus equipping alcoholics with better coping mechanisms. Treatment for Wernicke’s encephalopathy is only effective if a person stops drinking.

In addition to your treatment plan, the following management techniques can help you make a full recovery. Not everyone with Wernicke’s encephalopathy will also develop Korsakoff’s psychosis; it typically develops due to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment of the former condition. Wet brain is a disorder of the brain caused by a chronic thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.