Nursing Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Question: Discuss about theNursingfor Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Answer: Introduction (WKS) is a complex form of neurological disorder in patients where Wernickes Encephalopathy is the acute phase and Korsakoffs Psychosis is the chronic phase. The complication is a result of a deficiency of Thiamine, a form of vitamin B-1. While the most common cause of this disorder is alcohol misuse, the other associated factors are chronic infections, AIDS and poor nutrition. Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome is considered to be the most common form of dementia in elderly patients due to alcohol use, and the presenting symptoms are memory loss, delirium, and confusion as well as clinical signs like ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. Executive functions and memory are indicated to be the cognitive domains that are mainly impaired along with frontal and prefrontal damage. Nursing care for patients suffering from Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome needs to focus on therapeutic and non-therapeutic interventions that can cater the individualistic needs of the patients with regards to cognitive functions. A ddressing the concerns of diet and alcohol abuse in elderly is highly pertinent (Scalzo et al., 2015). References Scalzo, S. J., Bowden, S. C., Ambrose, M. L., Whelan, G., Cook, M. J. (2015). Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome not related to alcohol use: a systematic review.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery Psychiatry,86(12), 1362-13