Scots boy, 11, has alcoholic's brain disease
A Scots youngster is suffering from a rare brain disease that usually hits middle-aged alcoholics.
The boy, who is aged between 11 and 13, is thought to be the youngest person ever to be diagnosed with Korsakov's syndrome.
The "wet brain" condition normally affects males of between 40 and 59 and females aged 30 to 49.
The case in Lanarkshire was one of only 419 in Scotland last year, the majority of them in Glasgow.
Symptoms of the brain disorder include severe memory loss, blackouts and paralysis of the muscles which control the eyes.
Vitamin deficiency caused by long-term alcohol abuse is thought to bring on the condition, which cannot be reversed.
Dr William Morrison, chairman of the NHS quality improvement group for alcohol in Scotland, said: "I am astounded that someone so young could have Korsakov's syndrome.
"This child has obviously had an excess alcohol intake, not over a few weeks, but over several months or longer.
"This case is more evidence Scotland has an alcohol problem and we have an age group leading us towards a health crisis."
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill recently warned parents of underage drinkers they face fines of up to £1000 as part of a crackdown on the teenage alcohol crisis.
Now campaigners are warning children risk drinking themselves to death if alcohol abuse is not tackled.
Last night, Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "We have reached the point where the public health implications of allowing alcohol to continue to be sold at rock-bottom prices are too great."
Korsakov's syndrome is named after Russian psychiatrist Sergei Korsakov, who first described it in 1887.
Its main symptoms are loss of orientation and severe memory loss. Memory gaps are replaced by invented memories.
Daily Record
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