What syndrome is characterized by chronic mental impairments due to heavy alcohol use?

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a serious neurological condition often associated with chronic alcohol use, leading to significant cognitive impairments. It consists of two parts: Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia attributable to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which is common in individuals with chronic alcoholism due to poor nutritional intake. If untreated, Wernicke's can progress to Korsakoff syndrome, which involves profound memory disturbances, including anterograde and retrograde amnesia, as well as confabulation. This syndrome represents the long-term cognitive impairments resulting from heavy alcohol consumption and is a serious consequence of alcohol use disorder.

In contrast, alcohol withdrawal syndrome refers to the symptoms that can occur when a person who is dependent on alcohol abruptly reduces or stops alcohol intake. This syndrome does not encompass the chronic cognitive impairments that characterize Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Cirrhosis of the liver is related to the damage done to the liver from prolonged alcohol misuse but does not directly indicate the cognitive effects of alcohol on the brain. Substance use disorder is a medical term that encompasses a wide