Open AccessA case of Wernicke encephalopathy in a dementia caregiver: The need for nutritional evaluation in family caregivers
Author(s) -
Ishida Mayumi,
Uchida Nozomu,
Itami Kumi,
Sato Izumi,
Yoshioka Akira,
Onishi Hideki
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of general and family medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2189-7948
DOI - 10.1002/jgf2.494
Subject(s) - medicine , dementia , thiamine , wernicke encephalopathy , wernicke's encephalopathy , encephalopathy , poor appetite , pediatrics , thiamine deficiency , severe dementia , affect (linguistics) , psychiatry , appetite , disease , psychology , communication
A 63‐year‐old woman had started caring for her mother with dementia 6 months previously. A loss of appetite had appeared 2 months prior to her visit. Neurologically, she experienced mild unsteadiness, but she was fully conscious and had no ocular symptoms. MRI examination of her head did not reveal any notable findings. From these symptoms, the possibility of thiamine deficiency was considered, and her unsteadiness disappeared within a few days after an intravenous injection of thiamine. The burden of caring for a dementia patient may affect the nutritional status of the family caregiver.