A wet brain: You must have heard this term somewhere. And I’m sure many of you must have several questions relating to it.
Does it not sound almost impossible? Does this mean that somehow there is water inside your brain making it wet? Or does it mean that some condition prevails in the brain making it wet in some other form?
And if you think about anatomically having water in the brain, that sounds like a disaster, right? But no problem, you will get your answers here. I’m going to tell you all about WetBrain in this post.
Here Is What ‘Wet Brain’ Actually Means
If a person consumes a lot of alcohol for a prolonged period, then they can experience damage in the brain which is permanent in some cases, and this condition is known as a ‘wet brain‘.
When someone consumes a lot of alcohol is that the body becomes deficient in vitamin B or thiamine. The deficiency of thiamine hampers a lot of bodily functions. Vitamin B is among those vitamins that are required by the body more, as compared to other vitamins.
For the brain, thiamine is very necessary, as enzymes and neurotransmitters both require thiamine. Due to this, when there is a lack of thiamine in the body and brain, it leads to brain damage, known as a ‘wet brain’.
The Icy Whiz team interviewed Akram Dastagir, a Neurologist at the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology. Since he deals with neurological issues, he fits to answer this topic. Here is what he said:
“Wet brain is another term for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is related to excessive alcohol use. Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness about the scary side effects of drinking too much alcohol.
It starts with confusion, loss of coordination, and abnormal eye movements. Later, people can become confused. Treatment is with thiamine, which is a vitamin. If untreated, it can lead to coma and death.”
How Does Drinking Large Amounts of Alcohol Cause Thiamine Deficiency?
Have you noticed someone who consumes a lot of alcohol? You will see it affects them in various ways and one of the major effects is that their diet gets limited, restricted, and somewhat reduced. When the diet is reduced, it automatically reduces the amount of thiamine intake.
This symptom is usually experienced in people who experience alcohol addiction. People need to consume a well-balanced diet if they drink a lot of alcohol to create some sort of equilibrium. But there is another problem with it, even if you are consuming a very healthy and nutritious diet while consuming a lot of alcohol, then you will still experience problems.
This is because when you have a very heavy consumption. Your body also has outflows in the form of vomiting, nausea, increased urination, and diarrhea which in turn averts the thiamine intake all over again, reducing the amount of thiamine in your body.
Another problem is that alcohol consumption also affects the overall working of the liver, reducing its efficiency. Due to this, the time to convert thiamine to a usable form in the liver also increases which reduces the thiamine availability.
Studies have shown that in Western countries, 30-80% of alcoholics are thiamine deficient, thus putting them at a higher risk of developing Wernicke–Korsakoff (WK) syndrome.
Stages of ‘Wet Brain’
You will be surprised to know that there are two stages of ‘wet brain’, depending upon the effects and duration.
1. Wernicke Encephalopathy
The early stage of the ‘wet brain’ is known as Wernicke-Korsakoff. During this stage, the major symptoms experienced include rapid eye movement, muscle weakness, increased confusion, and visual and auditory hallucinations.
Vision problems, extreme trauma-like conditions that might adversely affect everyday functions like walking, personality changes, and sometimes even coma-like states.
It is caused by inflammation in the brain. Although it is temporary, it is still very dangerous due to the symptoms that are experienced. It can be very extreme and, in some cases, can turn out to be fatal too. A lack of proper treatment can worsen the conditions and lead to the second stage of ‘wet brain’, which is dangerous.
2. Korsakoff Psychosis
Korsakoff syndrome or Korsakoff psychosis is the second or later stage of Wernicke encephalopathy. The symptoms experienced include personality changes, confabulation, and tremors. It can also lead to problems with short-term memory and difficulty in forming new memories.
It might also affect vision. It is of a more permanent state and cannot be treated. The damage is like a coma, and anybody suffering from this condition requires constant care and attention.
Talking about Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or wet brain, Jordan Calabrese, a certified MD at Sana Lake Recovery, explained more about it in an interview. Here is what he said:
“Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is not a condition that everyone has heard of. It is caused by a thiamine, vitamin B1, deficiency in the brain. It can be the result of dietary deficiencies, or health conditions that cause the body not to absorb enough thiamine.
Drinking large amounts of alcohol also depletes the level and interferes with the absorption of thiamine. The result is often a Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome diagnosis.
When people think of alcohol overconsumption, one of the first things that comes to mind is cirrhosis of the liver. But the adage about alcohol killing off brain cells is essentially true too.
Vitamin B1 deficiency can have a significant effect on brain function. And unfortunately, even supplementation won’t rectify the problem.
The reality is that Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, or wet brain, is a condition that not many have even heard of. More education is needed around the issue.
It will be up to medical providers to educate their patients about Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as one more way that alcohol overconsumption can negatively impact your health.”
Diagnosis of ‘Wet Brain‘ Is Not So Easy
The diagnosis of a ‘wet brain’ is a very challenging process because the initial symptom is confusion. Due to this, it is all the more difficult to find and recognize any other major symptoms that you might be having. When this process gets delayed, and you get medical help much later, your condition might go from bad to worse in the meantime.
For somebody around you who already has a history of alcohol, I would suggest you ensure that they get their tests done and consult doctors whenever it is needed in order to ensure an early diagnosis for rapid treatment.
However, ‘Wet Brain’ Treatment Is Possible
Now that we know what causes the condition, the solution is to provide the body back with what is lacking. Since a ‘wet brain’ is caused by thiamine deficiency, a recovery can be made by making up for the thiamine and cutting down on alcohol. This helps in reversing the symptoms if it is not too late, and you have not already slipped into stage two.
The problem that still remains for alcoholics as it becomes a very challenging task to give up alcohol, with the withdrawal symptoms making it worse.
Dr. Lea McMahon, the Chief Clinical Officer at Symetria Recovery, talked to the Icy Whiz team about wet brain and possible cures. Here is what she had to say:
“I have years of experience helping patients overcome their substance abuse disorders, but one addictive condition refused to decline in number and severity.
Within the United States, the reported number of individuals suffering from alcohol dependency is nearing 8%.
Within this staggering statistic, there is a group that suffers from Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, also known as “wet brain” disorder, especially if they engage in heavy drinking while living isolated from others and those with mental health issues and diagnoses.
From the clients I have worked work, I classify anyone affected by a wet brain to exhibit the following symptoms: forgetfulness, mental lethargy, confusion, and neurological delay.
In addition, they also may experience psychological and behavioral changes while battling an alcohol addiction with increased depression, paranoia, anxiety, and an explosive temper.
While it does take a while to incur brain damage attributed to wet brain (binge drinking over days or weeks), such symptoms can spiral into Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, with mortality rates that range from months to years, depending on related health issues and biological factors.
The best news I can deliver to my patients is that wet brain is indeed reversible IF the patient commits to sobriety and disengages in their addictive behavior.
When a person abstains from any alcohol use for (a minimum of) two weeks, they will begin to see the symptoms of wet brain decrease and possibly altogether disappear under proper medical oversight and a commitment to coming to terms with their alcohol use disorder.”
So, Take Care of Yourself and People Around You
We have seen above how alcohol abuse is very dangerous for the body and how it causes a ‘wet brain’. In addition to the thiamine deficiency, it also affects the proper functioning of both the heart and the nervous system.
Due to insufficient thiamine, there are lesions in the brain, and these kinds of neurological symptoms lead to memory loss and other issues. If it is not quickly controlled, it will convert into a more serious and permanent problem. This makes it necessary to prevent it at all costs in order to have a healthy brain in the long term.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on May 18, 2024 by Pragya
Authors
This article on wet brain is an eye-opener about the severe consequences of prolonged alcohol abuse. The detailed explanation of thiamine deficiency leading to brain damage, along with the two stages of wet brain, provides crucial insights. The emphasis on early diagnosis for those with a history of alcoholism and the challenges of treatment, especially for hardcore alcoholics, adds a practical dimension. It’s a valuable resource for creating awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse and the importance of timely intervention to prevent irreversible damage to the brain.
Alcohol is prohibited in Islam. But it is very common now a days to consume it. I found this this article very helpful in this regard,
Addiction treatment options are available, and the effects of alcohol and wet brain symptoms can be reduced the earlier you get into treatment.
And this habit of consuming alcohol should be treated in its beginning.
This article introduced me to the concept of wet brain, revealing how prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to severe brain damage due to thiamine deficiency. It was a surprising and informative read, highlighting the critical importance of addressing alcohol-related health risks. This is very serious and must know thing.
Contrary to my assumption that it might involve the presence of liquid in the brain, wet brain results from excessive alcohol consumption leading to a deficiency in vitamin B or thiamine. This has reinforced my decision to steer clear of alcohol, as I’ve never been a fan, and understanding its potential health implications serves as a reminder.