Wernicke Encephalopathy Korsakoff Psychosis

Question 1

Chronic alcoholic + CAS (Confusion/ Ataxia/ Squint “Nystagmus,
Ophthalmoplegia)

Answer 1

→ Wernicke’s encephalopathy (Vitamin B1 -Thiamine- deficiency).

Question 2

◙ Chronic alcoholic ± CAS + Amnesia (memory loss) + Confabulation (Making
up stories) →

Answer 2

→ Korsakoff’s psychosis

Question 3

Korsakoff’s psychosis

Answer 3

• Important: brain MRI would show → Mamillary body atrophy. (Mamillary
bodies and thalamic regions are responsible for amnesia -memory impairment-
in patients who are chronic alcoholics who suffer from memory impairment -
Wernick’s Korsakoff).