Wernicke encephalopathy typically comes on suddenly, and you'll need treatment right away. Symptoms include confusion, loss of muscle ...News&FeaturesReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindaNeurologistLivingBetterWithMSADHDAlzheimer'sDiseaseAutismConcussionCreutzfeldt-JakobDiseaseEpilepsyGuillain-BarréSyndromeLouGehrig’sDisease(ALS)MultipleSclerosisParkinson'sDiseaseRestlessLegsSyndromeSpinalMuscularAtrophyStrokeMoreRelatedTopicsBrain&NervousSystemReferenceReviewedbyHansaD.Bhargava, MDonJuly16,2020InthisArticleWhatIsWernicke-KorsakoffSyndrome?Wernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeSymptomsWernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeCausesandRiskFactorsWernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeDiagnosisWernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeTreatmentWernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeComplicationsWernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeOutlookWhatIsWernicke-KorsakoffSyndrome?Wernicke-Korsakoffsyndrome(WKS)isonenamefortwoconditionsthatoftenhappentogether--WernickeencephalopathyandKorsakoffsyndrome.Manydoctorsthinkofthemasdifferentstagesofthesamedisease.Theycanhappenifyoudon’tgetenoughvitaminB1,alsocalledthiamine.VitaminB1helpsyourbrainturnsugarintoenergy.Whenyourbrainandnervoussystemdon’tgettheamounttheyneed,theydon’tworkaswell.Wernickeencephalopathytypicallycomesonsuddenly,andyou’llneedtreatmentrightaway.Symptomsincludeconfusion,lossofmusclecoordination,andtroublewithyourvision.Korsakoffsyndromehappensmoreslowly.It’salong-term,ongoingproblemthatdamagesthepartofyourbrainthathandlesmemory.Wernicke-KorsakoffSyndromeSymptomsThemainsignsofWernickeencephalopathyare:Balanceandmovementissues.Youmighthavelegtremors,andyourwalkmightbecomeslowandunsteady,withawidestanceandshortsteps.Youmayneedhelpstandingandgettingaround,andyourarmsandlegsmightfeelweak.Confusion.Youmayfeeloutofitandloseinterestinwhat’shappeningaroundyou.Eyeproblems.Youmayhavedoublevision,youreyelidsmightdroop,oryoureyesmaymovearoundquickly.ContinuedYoualsomayhaveproblemswithyourheartandbloodvesselsthatcanleadto:DrowsinessFaintingAfasterheartbeatthannormalLowbloodpressurewhenyous