Hi Elliot and welcome.  I am sorry about your wife.  My mother was diagnosed in January of 2003.  She was 63.  While always a drinker and probably an alcoholic it hadn't been an issue until my Dad died when she began been drinking heavily for the following 5 years as a result of her grief and depression.  She did alot of binge drinking and had decided not to "do" the holidays.  I found her on New Years Day in a complete stupor, malnourished and dehydrated.  Her home was a mess and there was no food.  Looked like she hadn't eaten in the whole of December.  She had a UTI, pneumonia, and other various illnesses as a result of not taking care of herself.  While in the hospital, she was diagnosed with Korsakoff's by a very astute attending physician.  She was in intensive care for about 2 1/2 months and was discharged to a nursing home because she was unable to walk.  She had no idea what was going on around her, was confabulating up a storm and because she kept trying to walk when she couldn't she was a danger to herself so she was placed in a locked ward in an Alzhiemers unit at the nursing home which was horrible.  After about 3 weeks she got her legs back and it was very clear that she was functioning quite well, so I was able to place her in an assisted living facility near my home here in Massachusetts.  At first, she could not engage very well, did not take care of herself, etc.  But now after 3 years, she seems to be very happy.  She in very involved in the activities, plays bingo, bridge and other card games.  Goes on shopping and dinner trips.  She reads and watches a lot of TV.  Her  sense of humor is back and while she has not regained her short term memory, she has learned to cope with it.  This engagment really did not occur until January of this year.  I described it at the time as an "awakening".  All of sudden she was aware of her condition, involved in activities, etc.  It was quite a burst.  Believe it or not, her neurologist said that the introduction of bridge could have triggered some neurons in her brain and very well could have caused her improvement, so Trevor really has something there with the rehab approach.  We haven't been able to get her to engage in our lives, ie take part in family dinners, activities, etc. but that's okay. I think it has a lot to do with her comfort level and need for routine. She doesn't like to be away from her home for too long.   At the beginning, clonidine helped with the confabulation and impulsive behavior as well as an antipsychotic, Seroquel.  Now she takes Exelon and Namenda, 2 Alzeimers drugs that have also helped her reach this level. 

 

I would suggest as Nora did that you read through the archives.  There is a great article in there somewhere that I can't get my hands on anymore.  It was the most informative in terms of causes, diagnosis and prognosis.  Our experiences are outlined in more detail and without the insight of time, so from me you'll find some angry entries, depressed entries, hopeful entries, etc.  and probably more accurate in terms of her history. 

 

This group has been a godsend for me, particularly at the beginning when I was confused and upset.  I learned alot and found comfort in not being alone.  I hope we can do the same for you.  Let us know how you are doing and how you came to be here.  and good luck.  Take Care, Kathy