Korsakoff's syndrome

Korsakoff's psychosis is a condition that is characterised by a retrograde amnesia – loss of memory for events before the onset of the illness – and an inability to memorise new information. (1)

Estimates of progression to Korsakoff's psychosis range between 50% and 85%. (2)

The condition is most commonly seen in alcoholic patients where there is loss of nerve cells in the thalamic and mamillary bodies secondary to a thiamine deficiency, and occasionally in cases of head injury, cerebral hypoxia, tumour or encephalitis. There is microglial and capillary proliferation.

Of those who develop Korsakoff's psychosis, 25% will require long-term institutional care (3)

Reference:

1. Chandrakumar A, Bhardwaj A, 't Jong GW. Review of thiamine deficiency disorders: Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2018 Oct 2;30(2):153-62.
2. Arts NJ, Walvoort SJ, Kessels RP. Korsakoff's syndrome: a critical review. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017 Nov 27;13:2875-90.
3. van Dam MJ, van Meijel B, Postma A, et al. Health problems and care needs in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Aug;27(4):460-481.