Korsakoff Syndrome
Photo by Rafael Leão
Vivant Senior Living can provide memory care to seniors with Korsakoff syndrome. Our memory care homes are structured, calm, and alcohol-free, providing all ingredients to alleviate Korsakoff syndrome.
What is Korsakoff Syndrome?
According to Dr. Michael D. Kopelman, the Korsakoff syndrome is most commonly associated with chronic alcohol misuse, and some heavy drinkers may have a genetic predisposition to developing the syndrome. It is a preventable memory disorder that can emerge after an episode of Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Wernicke's Encephalopathy
Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric reaction to Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) deficiency. Thiamine deficiency is usually caused by poor diet or alcoholism.
Rehabilitation and Treatment
"Abstinence is the cornerstone of any rehabilitation program. Korsakoff patients are capable of new learning, particularly if they live in a calm and well-structured environment and if new information is cued. There are few long-term follow-up studies, but these patients are reported to have a normal life expectancy if they remain abstinent from alcohol." [1]
Impact of Family Visits
"Patients in residential care may benefit from frequent family visits. However, in some cases, this may cause distress, for instance, if they are continually reminded that a loved one has died, or that they are, in fact, divorced. For those living at home, a weekly outing to a restaurant with a friend for lunch may be the highlight of the week, and afford respite to the caregiver. Caregivers may benefit from a support group." [1]
New Learning and Errorless Learning
"Korsakoff patients are capable of new learning, particularly if the information is cued and of a certain type. It has been shown that they are better able to recall new information over a longer period of time if they are not allowed to guess (Baddeley and Wilson, 1994). That 'errorless learning' is superior to 'errorful' learning has profound implications for styles of nursing and caring." [1]
Living Environment Importance
"New learning is facilitated if patients live in a calm and well-structured environment and have the support of a psychologist. Memory aids can help, for instance, the use of an alarm that can go off if they stray too far away from the ward (Baddeley et al., 2002). The living environment is important and should be designed to facilitate orientation. Ground floor units, large windows, and the use of arrows can all help with orientation and maximize the quality of life." [1]
All of Vivant Senior Living’s homes are single-level homes with plenty of natural light and access to outdoor patios.
Nutrition for Korsakoff Patients
"Repair and replacement of brain cell components is dependent upon 100,000 reactions occurring in the body every hour as a result of DNA being copied: in the vast majority of cases, the copied sequence is surprisingly accurate. This metabolic whirlwind must be fueled by an adequate supply of nutrients or it will fail, or be sub-optimal. The brain is especially sensitive to damage by free radicals. Lack of a vitamin such as thiamine and related nutrients such as magnesium (also deficient in individuals with alcohol dependence) could also affect metabolic pathways in the brain by interfering with the complex chains of biochemical reactions that manufacture energy." [1]
Vivant Senior Living works closely with our residents' primary care providers to implement individualized care plans, including special diets, vitamin supplements, and medication management.
1. Michael D. Kopelman, Allan D. Thomson, Irene Guerrini, E. Jane Marshall, The Korsakoff Syndrome: Clinical Aspects, Psychology and Treatment, Alcohol and Alcoholism, Volume 44, Issue 2, March-April 2009, Pages 148–154, https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agn118