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Suggest Treatment For Alcohol Addiction And Memory Problem

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Posted on Fri, 24 Jun 2016
Question: Male, age 70, high anxiety.............ringing in ears...........drinks 10 beers a day ( does not get drunk).........has begun to lie about everything...........obsesses on smallest things........in the car will ask every 5 minutes what direction he is traveling; wants to argue about everything;
What is this?
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Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Dementia

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

I am sorry to hear that your friend is having problems with alcohol and memory. He is having what we call dementia. His dementia maybe due to overuse of alcohol or from his prior strokes or from Alzheimer's. I would recommend that he be seen by a neurologist to perform an in depth evaluation for dementia. His current doctor is too close to him and not able to give an true objective opinion. My suspicion is that he may have an alcohol induced dementia known as Korsakoff dementia highlighted by frequent lying called confabulation. He should stop his alcohol use but he will need to do that through a rehab facility as he would be a great risk for withdrawal seizures.

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional question.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ronald Schubert

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Alcohol Addiction And Memory Problem

Brief Answer: Dementia Detailed Answer: Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns I am sorry to hear that your friend is having problems with alcohol and memory. He is having what we call dementia. His dementia maybe due to overuse of alcohol or from his prior strokes or from Alzheimer's. I would recommend that he be seen by a neurologist to perform an in depth evaluation for dementia. His current doctor is too close to him and not able to give an true objective opinion. My suspicion is that he may have an alcohol induced dementia known as Korsakoff dementia highlighted by frequent lying called confabulation. He should stop his alcohol use but he will need to do that through a rehab facility as he would be a great risk for withdrawal seizures. I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional question.