A 63-year-old woman had started caring for her mother with dementia 6 months previously. A loss of appetite had appeared 2 months prior to her visit. Neurologically, she experienced mild unsteadiness, but she was fully conscious and had no ocular symptoms. MRI examination of her head did not reveal any notable findings. From these symptoms, the possibility of thiamine deficiency was considered, and her unsteadiness disappeared within a few days after an intravenous injection of thiamine. The burden of caring for a dementia patient may affect the nutritional status of the family caregiver.
Keywords: Wernicke encephalopathy; caregiver; dementia; thiamine deficiency.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of General and Family Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Primary Care Association.