Final Answer:
Alcohol-induced irreversible memory loss due to brain damage resulting from deficiency of vitamin B1 is another name for 1) Korsakoff's syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
1) Korsakoff's syndrome, also known as alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome (AKS), is characterized by severe memory impairment resulting from damage to the brain's limbic system, primarily the thalamus and hippocampus. The condition is often associated with chronic alcohol abuse, leading to a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Thiamine is crucial for proper brain function, and its deficiency can result in neurological complications.
In the development of Korsakoff's syndrome, the primary factor is the toxic effect of alcohol on the brain, compounded by thiamine deficiency. Alcohol interferes with the absorption and utilization of thiamine in the body. Thiamine is essential for the proper metabolism of glucose, and its deficiency can lead to a disruption in energy production, particularly affecting the brain, which heavily relies on glucose for energy. The resulting damage to the brain structures involved in memory and learning contributes to the characteristic memory loss observed in Korsakoff's syndrome.
Patients with Korsakoff's syndrome often exhibit anterograde amnesia, where new information cannot be stored in long-term memory, and retrograde amnesia, affecting the recall of past memories. Additionally, confabulation—a phenomenon where individuals fill in memory gaps with false information— is a common feature. Treatment involves thiamine supplementation and abstinence from alcohol, but the memory impairment is often irreversible, underscoring the importance of early intervention in cases of alcohol-related thiamine deficiency.