Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS)

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) is condition found in chronic alcoholics that is tied to a defiency of thiamine (vitamin B1). This is a combined disorder of Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff's syndrome - because these two disorders are frequently comorbid they are usually diagnosed in tandem as WKS.

It is generally agreed by experts that Wernicke encephalopathy results from severe acute deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), while associated Korsakoff's syndrome is a chronic neurologic manifestation of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Symptoms of Wernicke's encephalopathy include vision disturbances, affected gait or ataxia (hyperlink?), and changes in mental state. Symptoms of Korsakoff's syndrome include anterograde and retrograde amnesias, and at least one of the following: apraxia, aphasia, agnosia, or a severe decline in executive functions. (all hyperlinks)