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Memory Impairment Disorder Discussion

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Korsakoff’s Syndrome
Korsakoff’s syndrome is a severe memory impairment that causes problems for the
patients in learning latest information and forming new memories about the events that
occurred after the damage to the brain (Carlson, N. R. (2012)). This memory impairment is
followed by severe anterograde amnesia caused due to the damage to the medial temporal
lobes. The patients of this syndrome have unaffected cognitive and social skills and they have
no problems in performing other neuropsychological tasks that do not require memorizing
information or forming new memories. For example, a patient of this memory impairment
can have a purposeful conversation with someone but may have no memory of this
conversation at all after a few moments.
Korsakoff’s syndrome occurs due to deficiency of the thiamine (Vitamin B1) in the
mammillary bodies. Thiamine is essential in the metabolism process during breakdown of
carbohydrates and fats in the body. This deficiency of the vitamin is mostly caused due to
chronic alcohol abuse or malnutrition when someone has low intake of vitamins (Day, E.,
Bentham, P. W., Callaghan, R., Kuruvilla, T., & George, S. (2013)). Alcohol abuse is related
to poor diet and disturbs the absorption of thiamine in the body due to which insufficient food
amount is converted into the energy (Day, E., Bentham, P. W., Callaghan, R., Kuruvilla, T.,
& George, S. (2013)). The damage to mammillary bodies in the posterior hypothalamus at the
base of the brain can also cause this syndrome (Carlson, N. R. (2012)). This damage of the
brain occurs due to deficiency of thiamine.

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Korsakoff’s Syndrome Korsakoff’s syndrome is a severe memory impairment that causes problems for the patients in learning latest information and forming new memories about the events that occurred after the damage to the brain (Carlson, N. R. (2012)). This memory impairment is followed by severe anterograde amnesia caused due to the damage to the medial temporal lobes. The patients of this syndrome have unaffected cognitive and social skills and they have no problems in performing other neuropsychological tasks that do not require memorizing information or forming new memories. For example ...
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