Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a type of brain disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B-1, or thiamine. The syndrome is actually two separate conditions ...Wernicke-KorsakoffSyndrome(WKS)MedicallyreviewedbySeungguHan,M.D.—WrittenbyLydiaKrause—UpdatedonSeptember17,2018RiskfactorsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentsOutlookPreventionWhatisWernicke-Korsakoffsyndrome(WKS)?Wernicke-Korsakoffsyndrome(WKS)isatypeofbraindisordercausedbyalackofvitaminB-1,orthiamine.Thesyndromeisactuallytwoseparateconditionsthatcanoccuratthesametime,Wernicke’sdisease(WD)andKorsakoffsyndrome.Usually,peoplegetthesymptomsofWDfirst.WDisalsoknownasWernicke’sencephalopathy.SymptomsofWKSmayincludeconfusion,changestotheeyesandvision,orexaggeratedstorytelling,amongothers.Alcoholism,orchronicalcoholmisuse,isthemostcommoncauseofWKS.WKScanalsobelinkedtodietdeficienciesorothermedicalconditionsthatimpairtheabsorptionofvitaminB-1.WhataretheriskfactorsforWKS?RiskfactorsforWKSarerelatedtoyourdietandlifestyle.ThemajorriskfactorsfordevelopingWKSaremalnourishmentandchronicalcoholmisuse.OtherriskfactorsforWKSinclude:inabilitytoaffordmedicalcareandproperfoodkidneydialysis,whichreducesvitaminB-1absorptionAIDS,whichmakesyoumorelikelytodevelopconditionsthatleadtovitaminB-1deficiencyWhatcausesWKS?Theno.1causeofWKSisalcoholism.ThelesscommoncausesofWKSareconditionsthatlimitnutritionalabsorption.Eatingandnutrientabsorptioncanberestrictedby:gastricbypasssurgery,whichmakesitdifficulttomeetnutritionalneedsduetolimitedfoodportionsgastriccancer,whichmaylimittheabsorptionofessentialnutrientscoloncancer,whichcanresultinpainthatcausesyoutoputoffeatingeatingdisordersAlcoholismistheno.1causeofWKSbecausepeoplewiththeconditiongenerallyhaveapoordiet.AlcoholalsopreventsvitaminB-1absorptionandstorage.WhatarethesymptomsofWKS?LesionsonthebraincauseWD.TheselesionsaretheresultofavitaminB-1deficiency.ProminentsymptomsofWDare:doublevisionadroopinguppereyelid,alsoknownasptosisup-and-downorside-to-sideeyemovementslossofmusclecoordination,orata