Wernicke's disease and Korsakoff's syndrome

At least three usages of the term >>Korsakoff's syndrome<< are found at the present time in the literature: the first equates this notion with, >>amnesic syndrome<<, a second denotes amnesic syndromes caused by diencephalic lesion, and a third refers to organic amnesia following thiamine deficiency. The present review in short delineates the history of Wernicke's disease and Korsakoff's psychosis as well as the functional-neuroanatomic basis of organic amnesia. In consideration of the variety of amnesic syndromes with respect to etiology and lesion localization as well as associated behavioural symptoms, it seems to be feasible to restrict the notion >>Korsakoff's syndrome<< to organic amnesia due to thiamine deficiency.