George Oscar Korsakoff

George Oscar Korsakoff was a Russian psychiatrist best known for his work on a brain disorder called Korsakoff syndrome. This condition is often linked to chronic alcoholism and results in severe memory problems, including difficulties in forming new memories and confabulation, where individuals create false memories to fill gaps. Korsakoff's research contributed significantly to our understanding of how alcohol affects the brain, particularly the thalamus and mammillary bodies. His findings continue to inform both psychiatry and neurology, emphasizing the importance of early intervention in preventing long-term cognitive damage associated with alcohol misuse.