An atypical neuropsychological profile of a Korsakoff syndrome patient throughout the follow-up

Eur Neurol. 2001;46(3):140-7. doi: 10.1159/000050787.

Abstract

The basis of amnesia in alcoholic Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) has been generally associated with diencephalic lesions and more specifically with lesions of the anterior thalamic nuclei. These brain structures are considered to be involved in encoding/consolidation processes of episodic memory. However, frontal lobe damage responsible for executive function deficits has also been documented. The present report details the nature and extent of amnesia in an alcoholic patients with WKS and which appears to be mainly due to frontal lobe (executive) deficits.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / physiopathology
  • Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / psychology
  • Anterior Thalamic Nuclei / pathology
  • Anterior Thalamic Nuclei / physiopathology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Korsakoff Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Korsakoff Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Korsakoff Syndrome / psychology
  • Male
  • Mental Recall / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Retention, Psychology / physiology
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / diagnosis
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / physiopathology
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / psychology