What is characterized by significant memory deficits and confabulation?

Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic neurocognitive disorder often associated with thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, commonly seen in individuals with alcoholism or malabsorption syndromes. The syndrome is characterized by significant memory deficits, particularly anterograde amnesia, which affects the ability to form new memories after the onset of the condition. One of the hallmark features of Korsakoff syndrome is confabulation, where patients create false memories or distortions without intending to deceive, usually to fill gaps in their memory.

This condition develops as a result of damage to specific areas of the brain, including the thalamus and mammillary bodies, due to prolonged vitamin B1 deficiency. Confabulation arises as a coping mechanism for the memory gaps, leading individuals to unknowingly fabricate stories or events to make sense of their experiences.

In contrast, Wernicke's encephalopathy, while also related to thiamine deficiency, typically presents with an acute triad of symptoms: ophthalmoplegia (eye movement issues), ataxia (loss of coordination), and confusion, but does not prominently feature confabulation. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder that can cause a range of neurological symptoms, including cognitive