Alcohol misuse can cause a lot of issues. But did you know that chronic alcohol abuse can cause problems such as an inability to remember recent events, memory gaps, and even trouble learning new information? These are all characteristics of Korsakoff's Syndrome, which can be caused by alcohol abuse. The actual physiological cause is a deficiency of thiamine. This can be due to anorexia, starvation, vomitings, AIDS, dialysis, as well as heavy drinking. These can all lead to thiamine deficiency.
Korsakoff's Syndrome can cause different types of memory problems. One symptom is retrograde amnesia. This is a loss of memory of events that happened before the onset of the disease. For example, someone might lose memories of their childhood. Another symptom is anterograde amnesia which is a bit more interesting. This is a loss of the ability to form new memories. A person cannot make new memories so they don't remember anything prior to the start of the disease. For example, a person might wake up 25 years after getting this syndrome and not know that its been 25 years! This is what happened to Drew Barrymore in the movie 50 First Dates.
The most interesting symptom of Korsakoff's Syndrome is confabulation. This is where someone has memory deficits and tries to fill in the missing information by guessing. However, they don't realize that they are making up information; they think its true! It isn't the same as lying because they aren't trying to deceive. They can even be influenced to think a certain way. If they are trying to fill in a memory gap, and they are told that something happened, they will believe it and even 'remember' it happening.
This website explains very clearly the causes, symptoms and treatments of Korsakoff's Syndrome.
Korsakoff's Syndrome can cause different types of memory problems. One symptom is retrograde amnesia. This is a loss of memory of events that happened before the onset of the disease. For example, someone might lose memories of their childhood. Another symptom is anterograde amnesia which is a bit more interesting. This is a loss of the ability to form new memories. A person cannot make new memories so they don't remember anything prior to the start of the disease. For example, a person might wake up 25 years after getting this syndrome and not know that its been 25 years! This is what happened to Drew Barrymore in the movie 50 First Dates.
The most interesting symptom of Korsakoff's Syndrome is confabulation. This is where someone has memory deficits and tries to fill in the missing information by guessing. However, they don't realize that they are making up information; they think its true! It isn't the same as lying because they aren't trying to deceive. They can even be influenced to think a certain way. If they are trying to fill in a memory gap, and they are told that something happened, they will believe it and even 'remember' it happening.
This website explains very clearly the causes, symptoms and treatments of Korsakoff's Syndrome.
I think it's wonderful that you distinguish between lying and guessing because I think people who have a person with Korsakoff's in their lives would have to adjust to that. They would have to distinguish for themselves if they believe this is the symptom talking or if the person is using the disease as an excuse to lie. Personally, if I met someone with this syndrome I would have trouble with this...my mom has always told us never to trust people, and that they always want something from you. I would be paranoid to think this person is lying to me on purpose and not just revealing a symptom. I would probably be under the impression that this person is a chronic liar...I wonder if anyone else would think this?
ReplyDeleteWell to those that are heavy drinkers this is another reason why people should not be drinking excessively. Imagine that because you preferred to drink a lot it could cause you not to remember your past memories or create new ones. I think that because they can’t remember anything they have to start guessing or make up information not to deceive a person but as a form to try to be part of a conversation.
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