It's definitely Wernicke-Korsakoff

[progdonkey]

It seems to be the consensus on DU that Bush is suffering from some neurological disorder (as opposed to solely psychological), and the usual diagnosis is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. I checked the symptom list, which matches the chimp about 85% (not including the stuff that can't be checked visually), and one of the minor ones, though, caught my eye especially. The very last symptom belongs to "autonomic disturbances," which includes "inability to tolerate cold environment."

If I remember correctly, Kerry's people wanted to be able to have the hall at a cold temperature, but the Bush people wouldn't allow below 70. Kerry's people were worried about Kerry getting sweaty, but Bush sweats like a monkey (surprise!) too, so why would they demand that the hall not be too cold? What had them so frightened that they were willing to risk having Bush's face dripping with sweat?

http://www.healthcentral.com/mhc/top/000771.cfm

[salinen]

1. Wernicke-Korsakoff

is one of my favorite composers.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. or perhaps just Assholic-Lackobrain syndrome????

[SeveneightyWhoa]

3. I think he's just stupid and arrogant.

It's that simple.

[fishnfla]

4. I pthought i thaw a putty cat!

Thufferen' succatash.

[FranzFerdinand]

5. kerry was known as a sweater in the primaries...

b'leeve it.

[Warpy]

6. Thank you, I've been trying to get that message across for

over 3 years. Wernicke-Korsakoff explains so much about Bush, and his admitted heavy alcohol use certainly put him at risk for it.

Since the condition has markedly worsened since he's been in office, I'd hazard a guess that he has continued to drink quietly, probably during his numerous vacations, between fund raisers. I'd also suspect that he's been on a rather short leash for the past few weeks, since his balance and gait seem to have improved somewhat.

The good news about this syndrome is that the alcoholic who has quit drinking can have his muscle coordination improved. The bad news is that the cognitive deficits, especially the memory loss, are permanent.

Bush is still high functioning, but he won't be for long unless he gets treatment for his alcoholism. Untreated alcoholics have a very poor prognosis no matter how much they love Jesus.

It's hard not to feel sorry for that man. He was so horribly limited to begin with, by his lack of both empathy and curiosity about the world he lives in. Now he's managed to damage himself severely by alcohol addiction. We need to get him the hell out of the office he is so terribly unsuited for. Then he'll deserve our pity.

[dweller]

7. i doubt it

WK is a debilitating syndrome caused by excessive alcohol and lack of proper nutrition. Alcohol substituted for food, calories, nutrition from lack of access or concern to proper diet, etc. I'd suspect the *moron has his 3 squares daily, and them some.

This syndrome is progressive and takes some time, you might find it more common in your typical skid row poverty stricken characterization of the bum living in an alley thriving on a bottle, and not in a socially adapted individual unless they had withdrawn from the public eye. It doesn't develop overnight, but takes time for the toll to set in and cause the damage.

with that said, i rather think he's just an overprivileged, arrogant, megalomaniacal and sociapathic asshole that doesn't have a clue as to what the real world is like considering that he has been a pampered prick all his life.


but that's just my opinion. He could also be on psychoactive drugs. And a blood test would detect that.

dp

edit: nm

[troubleinwinter]

8. Yes, a physical exam

The American people truly have a right to KNOW if the candidate is fit to serve. Or on medications and what kind. I wish there'd be a gigantic stink over his refusal to take a physical prior to the election.

[Warpy]

9. Actually, I've seen it mostly in well fed, suburban, white collar

men, and I've seen a lot of it, both at my job and in my estended family.

Even wealthy, high functioning alcoholics have incredibly poor nutrition, especially regarding the whole grains, fruits and veggies that are high in thiamine. They're likely to be steak and taters guys, and push everything else around on the plate as they drink their four or five drinks with dinner.

Skid row alcoholics are more likely to be killed off by alcoholic liver disease before Wernicke-Korsakoff has much of a chance to appear as a chronic dementia. It's mostly the better off economically who tend to have good enough nutrition that their brains fizzle before their livers do.

Once again, because of extensive experience with this syndrome both at work and in real life, Bush looks to me as though he's walking around with a big, flashing neon sign on top of his head that says "Wernicke-Korsakoff!"

There was a push about 25 years ago to put thiamine supplement into alcoholic drinks of all types in this country, something that probably would have saved Bush the worst of the damage, along with a lot of other wealthier, higher functioning alcoholics. This was abandoned because the preachers raised a fuss about encouraging alcoholics to keep drinking by removing one of the devastating consequences.

Personally, I'd rather keep them alive and preserve central nervous system function as long as possible, in the hope that they eventually seek treatment before it's too late. I'm afraid it might be too late for Bush.

[dweller]

10. Again

WK is due to long term and excessive alcohol abuse.

"Two forms of demetia are associated with long-term, heavy alcohol use: Wernicke's disease and Korsakoff's syndrome."
"The cause of Wernicke's is not alcohol itself, but a thiamine deficiency due to the deleterious effects of alcohol on the metabolism of nutrients, as well as an overall pattern of poor nutrition. Adequate thiamine intake can reverse Wernicke's disease. "
"Karsakoff's syndrome is a permanent form of dementia in which the individual develops retrograde and anterograded amnesia, leading to an inability to remember recent events or learn new information. It has been suggested that both disorders represent the same underlying disease process, with Wernicke's being the acute form, and Korsakoff's being the chronic form of the disorder."
"The chance of recovering from Korsakoff's syndrome are less than 1 in 4, and about 1/4 of those who have this disorder require permanent institutionalization."
(Thomson, Jeyasingham, & Pratt, 1987).

both poor nutrition and long term alcohol abuse. I don't see that affecting the *moron. He has too many handlers and too many concerned family members to allow him to disregard an adequate diet.

dp