Ann Rehabil Med.  2017 Feb;41(1):162-166. 10.5535/arm.2017.41.1.162.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. jylimmd@eulji.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

A 57-year-old man who was diagnosed with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome showed severe impairment of cognitive function and a craving for alcohol, even after sufficient supplementation with thiamine. After completing 10 sessions of 10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at 100% of the resting motor threshold over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dramatic improvement in cognitive function and a reduction in craving for alcohol were noted. This is the first case report of the efficacy of a high-frequency rTMS in the treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Keyword

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

MeSH Terms

Cognition
Craving
Humans
Korsakoff Syndrome*
Middle Aged
Prefrontal Cortex
Thiamine
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*
Thiamine

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery image shows no definite signal change in the mammillary bodies.

  • Fig. 2 Change of Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) scores induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).


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