Hypothalamic-pituitary function was studied by means of several dynami
c endocrine tests in 19 patients with alcoholic Korsakoff s syndrome,
17 non-amnesic alcoholics and 21 non-alcoholic controls. The responses
of thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormo
ne, and luteinizing hormone to a combined thyrotropin releasing hormon
e and gonadoliberin stimulation test did not differ significantly. For
the dexamethasone suppression test, the Korsakoff patients had signif
icantly higher basal serum cortisol and 08:00 hr post-dexamethasone co
rtisol levels than non-alcoholic controls. These findings raise the po
ssibility that chronically elevated cortisol levels may contribute to
cognitive impairment in alcoholic Korsakoff s syndrome.