Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

What chronic memory disorder is primarily caused by severe thiamine deficiency due to alcohol misuse?

1. Korsakoff syndrome

2. Alcohol-induced sleep disorder

3. Wernicke's encephalopathy

4. Insomnia

The correct answer is: Korsakoff syndrome

Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic memory disorder that arises primarily from severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which is often associated with prolonged alcohol misuse. This syndrome is characterized by significant memory impairments, including anterograde amnesia (difficulty forming new memories) and retrograde amnesia (loss of previously formed memories). Additionally, individuals may exhibit confabulation, where they create false memories to fill in the gaps in their recollection. Thiamine is essential for glucose metabolism and neuronal health; when alcohol misuse leads to malnutrition and thiamine deficiency, nerve cells become damaged, particularly in areas of the brain responsible for memory. This damage manifests as Korsakoff syndrome, making it vital for clinicians to recognize the relationship between chronic alcohol use and this neurocognitive disorder. While Wernicke's encephalopathy is also related to thiamine deficiency and can occur prior to the development of Korsakoff syndrome, it is more acute in nature and presents with symptoms such as confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. Thus, the condition that primarily encapsulates the chronic memory disorder stemming from this deficiency is Korsakoff syndrome, highlighting its role in the spectrum of alcohol-related brain disorders.