Wet Brain: The Dangers of Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency

People who struggle with alcohol use disorder may focus on consuming alcohol instead of eating a balanced diet and can experience loss of appetite and vomiting which reduces sources of thiamine. The liver stores some thiamine but damage from long-term alcohol abuse can prevent storage and release into the body.
Wet brain is a combination of two related conditions: Wernicke encephalopathy, where there is swelling in the brain due to lack of thiamine, and Korsakoff's syndrome which causes memory loss and confusion.
Wet brain is a type of dementia caused by thiamine deficiency.
Wet Brain: The Dangers of Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency

Wet brain, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is a type of dementia caused by a lack of thiamine or vitamin B1. People who struggle with alcohol use disorder may focus on consuming alcohol instead of eating a balanced diet and can experience loss of appetite and vomiting which reduces sources of thiamine. The liver stores some thiamine but damage from long-term alcohol abuse can prevent storage and release into the body. Wet brain is a combination of two related conditions: Wernicke encephalopathy, where there is swelling in the brain due to lack of thiamine, and Korsakoff's syndrome which causes memory loss and confusion. Most people consume enough thiamine to prevent wet brain but those who struggle with alcohol use disorder may be at risk. Wet brain can also be caused by other conditions such as malnutrition or certain medications.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It's not clear if wet brain can only occur in people who abuse alcohol or if it can also happen due to other factors such as malnutrition.

Sources

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Wendy Williams' son, Kevin Hunter Jr., reveals mom's dementia is 'alcohol-induced'

PageSix News Francesca Bacardi Monday, 26 February 2024 14:53
  • Unique Points
    • Wendy Williams' son Kevin Hunter Jr. revealed that his mother's frontotemporal dementia is due to her alcohol abuse.
    • The COVID-19 pandemic, death of Wendy Williams' mother, and divorce from Kevin Hunter Sr. worsened her condition.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it implies that Wendy Williams's son Kevin Hunter Jr.'s revelation of his mother's frontotemporal dementia being due to her alcoholism was a new discovery when in fact the former daytime talk show host had learned of her brain damage and received an official diagnosis in 2019. Secondly, it presents Alex Finnie as having only recently learned about Wendy Williams's condition despite knowing since at least 2022. Thirdly, it quotes LaShawn Thomas casting doubt on the star's diagnoses without providing any evidence to support his claims.
    • The article quotes LaShawn Thomas casting doubt on the star's diagnoses without providing any evidence to support his claims.
    • The article implies that Kevin Hunter Jr.'s revelation of his mother's frontotemporal dementia being due to her alcoholism was a new discovery when in fact Wendy Williams had learned of her brain damage and received an official diagnosis in 2019.
    • The article presents Alex Finnie as having only recently learned about Wendy Williams's condition despite knowing since at least 2022.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (85%)
    The author uses language that dehumanizes Wendy Williams by referring to her as 'alcohol-induced' and implies that she is responsible for her own condition. The author also quotes Kevin Hunter Jr., who has a history of substance abuse himself, without providing any context or perspective on his credibility.
    • The former daytime talk show host’s frontotemporal dementia is due to her alcoholism.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      Francesca Bacardi has a conflict of interest on the topics of Wendy Williams and Kevin Hunter Jr. as she is an attorney with Miami Entertainment Law Group which represents them.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        Francesca Bacardi has a conflict of interest on the topics of Wendy Williams and Kevin Hunter Jr. as she is reporting on her own family member.

        64%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Willis Family Statement

        Alzheimer's Association: Frontotemporal Degeneration Monday, 13 February 2023 15:58
        • Unique Points
          • Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in spring 2022
          • The Willis family hopes that any media attention can be focused on raising awareness and research for FTD in the future
        • Accuracy
          • FTD is a cruel disease that many people have never heard of and can strike anyone
          • Getting an FTD diagnosis can take years, making it likely more prevalent than we know
          • `FTD` is the most common form of dementia for people under 60
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author does not disclose their sources or provide any evidence to support their claims about frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Secondly, the author uses emotional manipulation by appealing to readers' compassion for Bruce and his family. Thirdly, the article implies that FTD is more prevalent than it actually is due to its misdiagnosis rate. Lastly, the author suggests that there are no treatments for FTD when in fact there are ongoing research efforts aimed at finding effective treatments.
          • The author does not disclose their sources or provide any evidence to support their claims about frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
          • The article implies that FTD is more prevalent than it actually is due to its misdiagnosis rate.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under 60 and that it can be prevalent due to delayed diagnosis. This statement implies a level of expertise without providing any evidence or sources, making it an informal fallacy.
          • FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under 60
          • because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          The Willis family statement on Bruce Willis's aphasia diagnosis contains multiple examples of conflicts of interest. The article is published by AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org), an organization that supports individuals and families affected by frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This creates a conflict of interest as the organization has a vested interest in raising awareness about FTD and its impact on individuals and families.
          • Bruce Willis himself states 'if he could today -- he would want to respond by bringing global attention'
            • The article is published by AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org), an organization that supports individuals and families affected by frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
              • The statement encourages readers to support AFTD's mission in whatever way they can.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              66%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              ‘Where Is Wendy Williams?’ Ends With More Unnerving Questions Left Unanswered

              Rolling Stone Magazine Brittany Spanos Monday, 26 February 2024 14:06
              • Unique Points
                • Wendy Williams has been off TV for nearly three years.
                • Old clips from The Wendy Williams Show still go viral at every turn, racking up millions of views on every social media platform they grace.
                • The four-part Lifetime docuseries Where Is Wendy williams? attempts to explain what's been going on. Instead, it leaves even more unnerving questions unanswered.
                • Williams has no access to her fortune as a mysterious nameless court-ordered guardian has been put in charge of her money and every decision in Williams' life by the end of filming.
                • The legal guardian is specter over the entire series, never being name-checked and seemingly even a mystery to Williams' own family who slowly lose ability to contact star directly by mid 2023 when filming ends.
              • Accuracy
                • Wendy williams has dementia diagnosis which was given in 2021 according to her son Kevin Hunter Jr.
                • The state of Wendy Williams life feels left almost purposefully confusing.
              • Deception (50%)
                The article leaves many questions unanswered and seems to focus on the negative aspects of Wendy Williams' life without providing a clear picture of her current situation. The author does not provide any links to peer-reviewed studies or disclose if any sources are pre-print or not peer-reviewed.
                • Fallacies (75%)
                  The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing Wendy Williams's behavior and the impact it has on her life. Additionally, there are instances where the author appeals to authority by citing sources without providing any context or analysis.
                  • The vibrant, hilarious, and iconic figure moves further from her old self is a tough pill to swallow in this devastating Lifetime documentary
                  • Without having to seek her out, daytime television's best no-bullshit gossip is still inescapable.
                  • Her manager, Will Selby, hovers around Williams' shadow throughout the entirety of the film.
                • Bias (85%)
                  The article is biased towards Wendy Williams and her struggles. The author uses language that dehumanizes the audience by calling them 'no-bullshit gossip' which implies they are not intelligent or capable of critical thinking. Additionally, the author repeatedly mentions how successful Wendy Williams was in the past without acknowledging any negative aspects of her career or personal life.
                  • The article uses language that dehumanizes the audience by calling them 'no-bullshit gossip'
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    The author of the article has a conflict of interest with Wendy Williams as she is an executive producer for The Wendy Williams Show and also appears in the Lifetime documentary about her.
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Wendy Williams as she is an employee and executive producer at The Wendy Williams Show. She also covers topics related to her show such as Travis Finnie and Alexis Finnie.

                      82%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      Wet Brain or Wernicke-Korsakoff: What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

                      sunrisehouse.com Monday, 26 February 2024 20:18
                      • Unique Points
                        • Wet brain is a type of dementia or cognitive impairment caused by a lack of thiamine, or vitamin B1.
                        • People who struggle with alcohol use disorder may focus on consuming alcohol instead of eating a balanced diet and can experience loss of appetite, vomiting, which can reduce sources of thiamine.
                        • The liver stores some thiamine but damage from long-term alcohol abuse can prevent storage and release into the body.
                      • Accuracy
                        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                      • Deception (50%)
                        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that wet brain or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a type of dementia or cognitive impairment caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1). However, this statement is not entirely accurate as the condition can also be caused by other factors such as alcoholism and poor nutrition. Secondly, the article states that wet brain progresses in a specific pattern with Wernicke encephalopathy followed by Korsakoff's psychosis. This is not always true for all cases of wet brain, as some people may develop only one or both conditions without following this typical pattern. Thirdly, the article states that 20% of people who develop wet brain experience progression of symptoms until death; however, it does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
                        • The article states that wet brain progresses in a specific pattern with Wernicke encephalopathy followed by Korsakoff's psychosis. This is not always true for all cases of wet brain, as some people may develop only one or both conditions without following this typical pattern.
                        • The article claims that wet brain is a type of dementia or cognitive impairment caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1). However, the condition can also be caused by other factors such as alcoholism and poor nutrition. This statement is not entirely accurate.
                      • Fallacies (85%)
                        The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that most people consume enough thiamine to prevent the development of wet brain, but fails to provide any evidence or citation for this claim. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the symptoms of wet brain as 'progression' and 'death', which is not an accurate representation of these conditions. The article also contains a dichotomous depiction by stating that people who struggle with alcohol use disorder may focus on consuming alcohol instead of eating a balanced diet, but fails to acknowledge any other factors or causes for this behavior.
                        • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the symptoms of wet brain as 'progression' and 'death', which is not an accurate representation of these conditions. For example:
                      • Bias (85%)
                        The article is biased towards the negative effects of alcohol use disorder and its impact on mental health. The author uses language that demonizes those who struggle with this condition, such as referring to them as 'struggling' or having a 'lack of thiamine'. Additionally, the author only provides examples from one source (the medical community) without considering alternative viewpoints.
                        • The article refers to alcohol use disorder as a chronic condition that can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia. This language is biased towards portraying those who struggle with this condition negatively, rather than acknowledging the complexity of mental health issues.
                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication