Dementia and alcoholism

Dementia is a condition which results in problems associated with learning, cognition and memory. Consumption of alcohol in excess affects the cells of the brain resulting in poor judgement and ‘lack of co ordination of physical actions.

Consumption of alcohol over a long period of time also causes certain problems with nutrition which in turn results in brain damage. This happens as the brain experiences deficiencies of certain vitamins.

A person afflicted with dementia will not be able to learn new thing easily even though the other mental faculties are alright. This may also result in certain changes in the person’s personality. Obvious symptoms of this condition include feeling confused most of the times along with other memory related problems.

A person suffering from this condition normally remembers things that have happened long ago very clearly but is not able to remember things which have happened a few minutes ago. Another symptom is that the person afflicted by dementia keeps repeating the same questions not remembering that he or she has already asked this question before and it has been answered.

Even during a conversation, the person suffering from dementia keeps repeating the same thing over and over again using the same expressions and words. Apart from doing this the person may be perfectly normal otherwise in matters like planning, being witty, playing games like chess, cards, etc.

Another variation of the alcoholic dementia is the Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome. This condition may occur along with the normal dementia or may occur independently.

The Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome damages more than one nerve in the central nervous system which includes the spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system and the brain. This disease exhibits symptoms found in alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol consumed over a long period of time causes some nutritional problems in a person. These problems include vitamin B-1deficiency.

The symptoms accompanying the Korsakoff syndrome also known as Korsakoff psychosis include loss of memory, loss of intellect or cognitive skills resulting in difficulty in solving problems and learning, etc.

One symptom which is quite scary is the way the person who is afflicted by this disease makes up convincing and detailed stories about their experiences. They do this in order to cover up memory gaps which result from damage of parts of the brain.

There are certain changes in personality which point out towards the developing dementia in a person. An alcoholic may exhibit gradual symptoms like frustration, irritability, anger, instability in their moods, emotional instability, jealousy, paranoia, suspicion, less emotional responses, dropping of inhibitions, fear of loneliness, insensitivity towards others, etc.

These people also are not able to perform tasks which are quite familiar, not able to connect to people, not able to take instant decisions, not have the confidence to start or complete anything on their own, etc.

A person afflicted with Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome also find it difficult to be fluent with words, and consequently are not able to follow conversations clearly. They tend to keep repeating what they say and also repeating questions.

These people experience a lost sense of timing, they wander away aimlessly and get lost even in areas which are familiar to them and do not recognize acquaintances and friends. They also start neglecting their health or even their work and property.