Alcohol Amnestic Disorder

Alcohol amnestic disorder is an older term for what is now called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). This term is a combination of the given names for two similar sets of symptoms; Wernicke's Encephalopathy and Korsakoff's Syndrome. This condition is caused by the heavy, long-term use of alcohol that creates a deficit of Thiamine (or Vitamin B1) caused by malnutrition that is brought about by unhealthy eating habits. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is usually secondary to alcohol abuse. It mainly causes vision changes, ataxia (hyperlink?), and impaired memory. Unfortunately, only 20% of cases of WKS are diagnosed before death.