SUN Delaware Informs Locals on Wet Brain Syndrome

Georgetown, DE – SUN Behavioral Delaware, a respected provider of mental health and substance use disorder treatment, recently released a blog answering the following question: "What is wet brain syndrome?"

Wet brain syndrome is not so unlike regular dementia, but it’s brought about by alcohol. Wet brain syndrome isn’t common. “Across the world, wet brain syndrome exists in almost 2% of the world population,” the blog post states.

The article goes on to explain that the technical name for wet brain syndrome is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. “Wernicke’s is a disorder where a lack of vitamin B1 causes the decline of the brain due to a decrease of oxygen or blood flow to the brain. At the same time, Korsakoff’s is a memory disorder similar to forms of dementia such as Alzheimer's caused by a lack of vitamin B1 and alcoholism. They are not considered different disorders but different levels of severity of the same disorder,” the article says.

Wernicke’s is the first stage of wet brain syndrome, while Korsakoff syndrome is the second and final stage. Both are associated with memory problems, but untreated, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can cause loss of mobility and/or a coma, the blog post states. It is possible to prevent the illness from worsening if it’s caught soon enough by a doctor, however.

“While an alcohol use disorder is the most common cause of wet brain syndrome, it can also be caused by hemodialysis, anorexia nervosa, AIDs, and cancer,” the article shares. It also points out that alcohol use disorder doesn’t always cause wet brain syndrome. Consistent alcohol use, however, prevents B1, which helps convert food to energy, from being absorbed by the body.

The blog then goes on to share facts about alcohol use disorders, including the four stages of alcoholism, and side effects of alcohol use disorders more common than wet brain syndrome: headaches, slurred speech, lowered inhibitions, feeling dizzy, issues with memory, and irregular heartbeat, among others.

“Drinking more than one serving of alcohol in an hour is considered binge drinking. One serving of alcohol is 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, and 1.5 oz of all other alcohol including whiskey, tequila, and rum,” the article states. It then explains the dangers of binge drinking, such as alcohol poisoning.

Next, the blog goes into more detail on what wet brain syndrome is. “There are two separate stages of wet brain syndrome. The first stage is Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which involves intense brain swelling,” the article says. This stage of wet brain syndrome can thankfully be reversed if treated properly. However, “If it is not properly treated, the second stage called Korsakoff’s syndrome presents itself as a long-term condition that cannot be recovered from when it reaches this point. It has similar symptoms to dementia, such as memory loss and being unable to form new memories,” the article says.

The blog ends with a recommendation for those with wet brain syndrome to stop using alcohol, increase vitamin B1 intake, and incorporate a healthy diet into their life. It also calls upon those with alcohol use disorders to seek treatment.

SUN Behavioral Delaware is a psychiatric hospital located in Sussex County, Delaware. They specialize in treating both mental health conditions and substance use disorders, and can treat both simultaneously if needed. SUN Behavioral Delaware offers a full continuum of care and specialized programs for each age group, as well as an on-site pharmacy to help those who finish treatment with their medications.

Those wanting to know more about SUN Behavioral Delaware can contact them through their website or by telephone at 302-604-5600. Care assessments are available at no cost.