Breaking Benjamin frontman Benjamin Burnley became ill in 2007 and has been diagnosed with Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome - a chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-1). Korsakoff syndrome is most commonly caused by alcohol misuse.
In an interview with RollingStone, Burnley explained:
I used to be an alcoholic and I stopped drinking in 2007 because I got sick. I stayed up drinking for three days straight. When I woke up I was weak, seeing spots and dizzy and it never went away. I thought, "Wow, I really did a number on myself. I'm gonna chill for a few days and not drink and I'll get better." But that didn't happen. It got way worse.
He might still have the illness but there is also a possibility that the singer has fully recovered.
According to ALZ.org, in those who develop Korsakoff syndrome, with or without a preceding episode of Wernicke encephalopathy, there are few studies on long-term outcomes.
Available data suggest that about 25 percent of those who develop Korsakoff syndrome eventually recover, about half improve but don't recover completely, and about 25 percent remain unchanged. Some research suggests that those who recover from an episode may have a normal life expectancy if they abstain from alcohol.
For the latest updates, follow the official Twitter page of Benjamin J. Burnley/Breaking Benjamin @BenBurnleyBB.