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Korsakoff's disease is a brain disorder which is named after Sergei Korsakoff (1854-1900), a Russian neurologist who first described the disease. It arises from a dietary deficiency of thiamin (Vitamin B-1), which the body uses to convert carbohydrates into energy. Over time, thiamin deficiency can cause damage to several brain areas critical for memory: including the thalamus, mammillary bodies and basal forebrain. In rare cases, this damage culminates in Korsakoff's disease.