The Relationship Between Korsakov's Syndrome and ‘Alcoholic Dementia’

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Abstract
Fifty cases of Korsakov's syndrome and 13 of ‘alcoholic dementia’ were identified from hospital records with the aim of examining the claim of each to be regarded as a clinical entity. Korsakov's syndrome, as diagnosed, was not homogeneous and comprised two groups. One resembled cases labelled as ‘alcoholic dementia’: the onset was gradual, the patients were older women with poorer intellectual functioning and there was a better outcome. The other group conformed to the conventional notion of Korsakov's syndrome, with preservation of intellect and a poor outcome. The combined group of gradual-onset cases and ‘alcoholic dementia’ was not entirely homogeneous. Within it were patients with ‘accelerated psychological deterioration’, others with Korsakov's syndrome superimposed on this pre-existing psychological deficit, and some with subacute confusional states.