A Brief Review on Korsakoff Syndrome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61427/jcpr.v4.i2.2024.133Keywords:
Amnesia, Korsakoff Syndrome, ThiamineAbstract
Korsakoff Syndrome (KS) is a residual syndrome which is characterized with neuropsychological conditions affecting the daily life of chronic drinkers of alcohol. Sergei Korsakoff is a Russian neuropsychiatrist, in the year 1887 given a note on the Korsakoff syndrome which is characterized by an extraordinary peculiar amnesia which has been associated with peripheral inflammation of the nerves. This syndrome can be chronic in onset and remains permanent. The person suffering with KS can be observed with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. The symptoms of amnesia, executive dysfunction, confabulation, apathy and social-cognitive impairments can be observed in these affected patients. In the aspect of the pharmacological treatment of KS sufficient concentration of thiamine should be administered parenterally. In alcoholic patients, the doses of thiamine can be administered approximately 500mg or above but the evidence in this aspect is less available. Compared to the pharmacological therapy, the rehabilitation programme can be more helpful to the patients with KS. Among six studies, evidence was produced that some of the techniques which can be helpful for the compensation of memory can include use of agendas, memory cards, gadgets like mobiles and smart watches can be helpful in the patients with KS. For the better improvement of the cognition, interventions associated with errorless learning can be possible theoretically. In this learning process the patients are not permitted to make any errors. This may also support the semantic learning process.
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