Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine  2017;41(1):162-166

doi:10.5535/arm.2017.41.1.162

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

So Won CHUNG 1 ; Shin Who PARK ; Young Jae SEO ; Jae Hyung KIM ; Chan Ho LEE ; Jong Youb LIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

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.