Alcohol-Related Thiamine Deficiency: Impact on Cognitive and Memory Functioning

Chronic alcohol abuse is associated with several neurological disorders, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). Deficiency of thiamine—a vitamin essential for the metabolism and function of brain cells—is thought to be one factor contributing to the cognitive deficits and brain pathology characteristic of WKS. Excessive alcohol consumption may contribute to thiamine deficiency in several ways. Studies in human patients and animal models of WKS are attempting to identify brain structures affected by thiamine deficiency and to correlate them with the cognitive deficits observed in WKS patients.