Korsakoff syndrome (KS) is an amnestic disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1​) deficiency typically associated with prolonged use of alcohol. The syndrome ...KorsakoffsyndromeFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchMentalillnesscausedbyalackofthiamineinthebrainSeealso:Wernicke–KorsakoffsyndromeKorsakoffsyndromeOthernamesAlcoholicKorsakoffsyndrome(AKS),Korsakovsyndrome,AlcoholamnesticdisorderThiamineSpecialtyPsychiatryKorsakoffsyndrome(KS)[1]isanamnesticdisordercausedbythiamine(vitaminB1)deficiencytypicallyassociatedwithprolongeduseofalcohol.[2]ThesyndromeandpsychosisarenamedafterSergeiKorsakoff,theRussianneuropsychiatristwhodiscovereditduringthelate19thcentury.Thisneurologicaldisorderiscausedbyalackofthiamineinthebrain,andisalsoexacerbatedbytheneurotoxiceffectsofalcohol.WhenWernickeencephalopathyaccompaniesKorsakoffsyndromethecombinationiscalledWernicke–Korsakoffsyndrome;however,anepisodeofWernickeencephalopathyisnotalwaysrecognized.Contents1Signsandsymptoms2Causes2.1Riskfactors3Diagnosis4Prevention5Treatment6Epidemiology7References8ExternallinksSignsandsymptoms[edit]TherearesevenmajorsymptomsofKorsakoffsyndromeanamnestic-confabulatorysyndrome:anterogradeamnesia,memorylossforeventsaftertheonsetofthesyndromeretrogradeamnesia,memorylossextendsbackforsometimebeforetheonsetofthesyndromeamnesiaoffixation,alsoknownasfixationamnesia(lossofimmediatememory,apersonbeingunabletoremembereventsofthepastfewminutes)[3][4][5]confabulation,thatis,inventedmemorieswhicharethentakenastrue,duetogapsinmemory,withsuchgapssometimesassociatedwithblackoutsminimalcontentinconversationlackofinsightapathy–interestinthingsisquicklylost,andthereisanindifferencetochangeBenonR.andLeHuchéR.(1920)describedthecharacteristicsignsofKorsakoffsyndromewithsomeadditionalfeaturesincluding:confabulation(falsememories),fixationamnesia,paragnosiaorfalserecognitionofplaces,mentalexcitation,andeuphoria.[6]Thiamineisessentialforthedecarboxylationofpyruvate,anddeficiencyduringthismetabolicpro