{"id":7211,"date":"2023-09-09T22:19:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T22:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drmirkin.com\/?p=7211"},"modified":"2023-09-13T00:20:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T00:20:05","slug":"steve-harwell-brain-damage-from-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/drmirkin.com\/?p=7211","title":{"rendered":"Steve Harwell: Brain Damage from Alcohol"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Harwell was lead vocalist for the rock band Smash Mouth<\/em> from its formation in 1994 until his retirement in 2021. He produced three top hit songs: “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “All Star” and \u201cI\u2019m a Believer.” He and the band sold more than 10 million albums and had two #1 hit singles, five Top 40 singles, three Hot 100 singles, four Billboard 200 albums and a Grammy nomination. The band also appeared on hundreds of film and television placements and was featured on \u201cShrek.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout most of his life, Harwell suffered from alcoholism. On September 4, 2023, at age 56, he died in hospice care in his home from liver failure and Wernicke-Korsakoff (WK) syndrome. WK syndrome is brain damage from excessive alcohol intake, and recent studies show that some cases may be due to a hereditary disorder of thiamine (vitamin B1) metabolism. The thalamus and hypothalamus in the brain show significant damage that can eventually cause complete loss of memory. The condition is associated with:
\n\u2022 excess alcohol intake
\n\u2022 lack of nutrients
\n\u2022 prolonged vomiting
\n\u2022 eating disorders restricting certain foods
\n\u2022 chemotherapy.
\nSymptoms include: confusion, visual disturbances, coma, low body temperature, low blood pressure, loss of muscle coordination, tremor, passing out and disorientation. Treatment involves immediate complete avoidance of alcohol, replacement of the vitamin thiamine, proper nutrition and adequate fluid intake. Some people improve on this regimen.
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