Some Observations on the Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome in Australia

Abstract

Summary The high incidence of the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome in Australia is described. Examination of patients with this syndrome in a Queensland mental hospital reveals an excess of those who had undergone partial gastrectomy and excesses of single males and widowers. There was a relative deficit of females within this diagnostic category. Although there are reasons for relating the high incidence of the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome to high rates of beer consumption, it is concluded that these do not explain the situtation adequately and that life‐stly factors are likely to be of greater importance.