Wernicke's encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by a triad of symptoms: confusion, ophthalmoplegia (paralysis of the eye muscles), and ataxia (lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements). It results from a deficiency in thiamine, which is crucial for carbohydrate metabolism and proper nerve function. Without adequate thiamine, there is a risk of cell death, particularly in brain regions such as the thalamus and hypothalamus.
