What Is Wet Brain?

Wet brain, scientifically known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), is a condition characterized by significant brain damage often caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. If left untreated, it can lead to hallucinations and confusion and may even be fatal.

What Is Wet Brain?

Wet brain is a condition due to severe thiamine depletion and malnutrition. The brain requires a particular amount of thiamine to function properly. Thiamine is a vitamin that helps your cells generate energy from carbohydrates. Because the brain and nervous system require carbohydrates to work properly, your cognitive functioning can become significantly impaired when you don’t receive enough.

When WKS occurs, lesions appear on the brain that cause significant impairment in memory, learning, and the physical ability to function. Up to 14% of those who chronically misuse alcohol may eventually receive a diagnosis of WKS. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome may develop within a few weeks to several months, depending on how quickly thiamine levels are depleted in the brain.

The Social Stigma Surrounding Wet Brain

Although many people use the term “wet brain” to describe Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, it is an outdated phrase that stigmatizes people who develop this condition. This term suggests that those with WKS choose to get it. You cannot willfully develop Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. It is a complex condition with several underlying factors. Two people may have very similar patterns of drinking, and while one may go on to develop WKS, the other may not. This stigma surrounding the condition makes it more difficult for people to seek the help they need to treat WKS before it becomes irreversible.

Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Symptom severity associated with WKS is dependent upon the stage of the disease. The physical and cognitive symptoms associated with the first stage are less severe than the second. However, they are still distinct and serious enough to cause significant issues. These symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Apathy
• Changes in heart rate
• Difficulty standing and walking
• Vision disturbances
• Eye movement dysfunction
• Cognitive processing difficulties

The typical symptoms may seem similar to those of intoxication, even if the person is not drinking. Without proper treatment, Wernicke’s encephalopathy will progress into Korsakoff psychosis. Korsakoff psychosis is a form of neuropsychiatric dementia that significantly affects a person’s ability to function and take care of themselves. These symptoms include:

• Amnesia
• Hallucinations
• Changes in behavior
• Anger and agitation
• Disorientation
• Personality changes
• Memory loss
• Impaired balance and coordination

There is a high mortality rate and poor prognosis associated with Korsakoff psychosis, and those diagnosed have a much shorter life expectancy than those in the general population, with the prognosis worsening with age. Although the amount of alcohol consumption necessary for developing either condition is uncertain, it is mostly dependent on how quickly thiamine levels diminish over time.

How Is It Diagnosed?

One of the issues with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (wet brain) is that many providers miss the window of diagnosis because incoherent thought and communication are also signs of protracted withdrawal and intoxication. Those with alcohol use disorder that progress to this point of severity are unlikely to receive the help they need. A proper diagnosis can be given after reviewing a patient’s history, conducting a thorough clinical evaluation, and undergoing imaging scans to look for changes that indicate WKS. A doctor will also order lab work to check blood sugar, electrolytes, and thiamine levels.