Korsakov's syndrome, or amnestic syndrome, is manifested by impaired short-term memory, which is why the patient has a sense of time. Intelligent abilities are not reduced. Damage to the posterior lobe of the hypothalamus and surrounding structures is considered to be the cause of the disorder; bilateral damage to the hippocampus can sometimes be observed.
For the first time, this syndrome was examined by the Russian psychiatrist S.S. Korsakov. At the end of the nineteenth century, the term "Korsakov syndrome" was used to describe a number of disorders that have the same symptoms. Currently, this term describes memory impairment, learning abilities, moreover, these two symptoms should be significantly more pronounced than other manifestations of the disease.
The term "Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome" is also common. In 1881, Wernicke described an acute neurological syndrome, which may result in short-term memory problems. This syndrome is manifested by acute impaired consciousness, loss of memory, orientation, and other symptoms. These disorders are of an organic nature: in the brain of such patients foci of bleeding form in the third and fourth cerebral ventricles. It is now known that with both syndromes, the same damage to the gray matter of the brain occurs.
As already mentioned, the main manifestation of Korsakov’s syndrome is a violation of short-term memory. Usually, patients manage to recall those events that occurred a few seconds ago, but after a few minutes or more, everything that happened to them is forgotten. Tests with storing numbers show that the patient can show good results only in a few seconds, after ten minutes you can observe memory impairment. Not always such violations can depend on the patient's inability to memorize. Typically, problems arise with the reproduction of the information received, the patient feels some kind of interference, preventing him from remembering normally what he is being asked for. Korsakoff syndrome, due to the memory impairment described above, leads to time disorientation.
The memory lapses that accompany Korsakov’s syndrome are often manifested in the fact that the patient, trying to remember what happened to him, describes what actually never happened. He simply cannot distinguish which facts actually took place and which are a figment of his imagination. Such patients can usually be easily inspired with anything, if the doctor only hints slightly to the patient about nonexistent events, then he is able to easily give a detailed description of this event or fact. allegedly taking place.
With serious memory impairment, the remaining mental abilities of the patient are maintained at the same level. Often, such people can well maintain a conversation with the doctor, solve everyday problems. Nevertheless, disturbances in the emotional sphere (dullness) are observed. Patients also experience problems with committing actions that require strong-willed efforts from them.