Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Alcohol prevents the absorption of thiamine by blocking thiamine pyrophosphate synthetase, resulting in thiamine deficiency.

The main symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy are ataxia, confusion and ophthalmoplegia.

Korsakoff syndrome involves symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy plus short-term memory loss and hallucinations

The treatment is the intravenous replacement of thiamine (e.g. Pabrinex).