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Glite Dictionary
Korsakoff syndrome

Korsakoff syndrome

1 7.9
A brain disorder from long heavy drinking and lack of vitamin B1 that causes severe memory loss
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔrsəˌkɔf ˈsɪnˌdroʊm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : síndrome de Korsakoff
  • Korsakoff syndrome is serious.

Examples

  • The doctor diagnosed the patient with Korsakoff syndrome after years of heavy alcohol use.

  • People with Korsakoff syndrome often struggle to remember recent events or learn new information.

  • Treatment for Korsakoff syndrome includes thiamine supplements and support for alcohol dependence.

  • Many patients with Korsakoff syndrome struggle with memory loss.

  • Individuals with Korsakoff syndrome may experience significant memory loss that affects their daily life.

  • Patients suffering from Korsakoff syndrome often show difficulty in recalling recent events and experiences.

  • Due to a severe thiamine deficiency from alcohol use, he developed Korsakoff syndrome, leading to serious cognitive issues.

Synonyms

Korsakoff's syndrome
vsKorsakoff syndrome
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A long-lasting memory disorder that prevents making new memories but keeps older memories, often after heavy drinking

is caused by thiamine deficiency and adds confusion and severe memory loss
Korsakov's syndrome
vsKorsakoff syndrome
  • Specialized
9.9

A long-lasting memory problem often after heavy drinking that makes a person lose recent memories but keep older ones

also highlights confusion and broad memory problems beyond short-term loss
Korsakoff's psychosis
vsKorsakoff syndrome
  • Specialized
9.1

Long-lasting memory problem with severe short-term memory loss caused by long-term heavy drinking

emphasizes thiamine cause and includes confusion and forming new memories difficulty
Korsakov's psychosis
vsKorsakoff syndrome
  • Specialized
9.9

A long-lasting memory disorder after heavy drinking that makes people forget recent events but remember older ones

is framed as a brain disorder from vitamin deficiency with confusion included
polyneuritic psychosis
vsKorsakoff syndrome
  • Archaic
9.9

A serious memory problem where heavy long-term drinkers lose recent memories but keep old ones

is focused on thiamine deficiency causing severe memory loss and formation problems

Surface Forms

Korsakoff syndrome singular
Korsakoff syndromes plural

Morphology

Korsakoff + syndrome

The element 'syndrome' clearly signals a medical condition, so a learner who knows both words can infer this is a disorder named after someone. However, 'Korsakoff' is a proper name that gives no information about cause or symptoms, so the specific clinical meaning (thiamine-related memory disorder, severe amnesia) cannot be derived from the parts. This partial clueing makes the expression only partially predictable to learners.

Etymology

Korsakoff syndrome is named after a Russian doctor, Sergei Korsakoff, who noticed patients with very bad memory problems after long heavy drinking. So today Korsakoff syndrome means the brain illness that causes 'memory loss' and trouble 'making new memories'.