In desperate need of both insight and advice
I am concerned that my mother may be showing signs of Korsakoff syndrome. As for her background, she has a history of alcohol abuse, including severe abuse stretching over 4/5 years. The alcoholism has now largely subsided, unfortunately not stopped entirely. She is 54 years old and used to hold a very strong mind and be an intelligent individual however her cognitive capability has substantially depleted.
I have been researching alcohol induced dementia and need to know more about the symptoms and treatments.
The symptoms I’ve noticed so far cover a range of examples of mental deterioration:
- Confabulation – many instances of imagined memories and confusing these with reality, for instance, believing that I had been in hospital with her for several days, when in fact I had just called up to see how she was; believing that she had been in hospital for 1 / 2 weeks when in fact it was just the one night; imagining other events such as conversations and believing they are reality
- Confusion – for example confusing 11.30pm for 11.30am and leaving the house in the middle of the night to walk 30mins to the centre where she volunteers; not recognising her surroundings and attempting to enter the wrong property
- Forgetfulness
You will notice the above events mention hospital, this is where I need gaps filling in… she has been in hospital on several occasions for collapses when out and about, and has had reported confusion yet this has not been escalated
She is also on medication for low levels of thiamine, another symptom of Korsakoff syndrome. Despite numerous episodes in hospital she has not yet been diagnosed, does this sound like it could be early symptoms of dementia? Do I have a case to push further for help?
There is an added difficulty in not knowing exactly what is going on as we live at opposite ends of the country and I rely on second hand, often very muddled, information.
I would really appreciate any advice anyone could give on what this could be and how best to go about getting help.
Thank you
I am concerned that my mother may be showing signs of Korsakoff syndrome. As for her background, she has a history of alcohol abuse, including severe abuse stretching over 4/5 years. The alcoholism has now largely subsided, unfortunately not stopped entirely. She is 54 years old and used to hold a very strong mind and be an intelligent individual however her cognitive capability has substantially depleted.
I have been researching alcohol induced dementia and need to know more about the symptoms and treatments.
The symptoms I’ve noticed so far cover a range of examples of mental deterioration:
- Confabulation – many instances of imagined memories and confusing these with reality, for instance, believing that I had been in hospital with her for several days, when in fact I had just called up to see how she was; believing that she had been in hospital for 1 / 2 weeks when in fact it was just the one night; imagining other events such as conversations and believing they are reality
- Confusion – for example confusing 11.30pm for 11.30am and leaving the house in the middle of the night to walk 30mins to the centre where she volunteers; not recognising her surroundings and attempting to enter the wrong property
- Forgetfulness
You will notice the above events mention hospital, this is where I need gaps filling in… she has been in hospital on several occasions for collapses when out and about, and has had reported confusion yet this has not been escalated
She is also on medication for low levels of thiamine, another symptom of Korsakoff syndrome. Despite numerous episodes in hospital she has not yet been diagnosed, does this sound like it could be early symptoms of dementia? Do I have a case to push further for help?
There is an added difficulty in not knowing exactly what is going on as we live at opposite ends of the country and I rely on second hand, often very muddled, information.
I would really appreciate any advice anyone could give on what this could be and how best to go about getting help.
Thank you