Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome natural history, complications and prognosis
Introduction
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Complications
Complications
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Difficulty with personal or social interaction
- Injury caused by falls
- Permanent alcoholic neuropathy
- Permanent loss of thinking skills
- Permanent loss of memory
- Shortened life span
Prognosis
Prognosis
- Without treatment, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome gets steadily worse and can be life threatening.
- With treatment, symptoms can be controlled (such as uncoordinated movement and vision difficulties) from getting worse.
- Some symptoms, especially the loss of memory and thinking skills, may be permanent. Other disorders related to alcohol abuse may also occur.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]