Here are four simple facts:

1. Alcohol is toxic to the brain.

2. It kills brain cells resulting in brain damage.

3. In the end stage of alcoholism, alcoholic dementia is relatively common.

4. While in a minority of cases, Wet Brain Syndrome can develop
If caught early enough it can be treated and a full recovery can occur. But if allowed to progress it will cause permanent brain damage and can kill (about 20% of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome sufferers will die from the condition)
Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome/wet brain

Because Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is two disorders there are two distinct set of symptoms:

Wernicke Encephalopathy

This is the acute phase. Symptoms can include:

-a staggering gait (not unlike the walk of someone intoxicated),

-difficulty swallowing,
-speech problems,
-disturbed eye movements

-and mental confusion.
If these symptoms are ignored and the alcoholic continues to drink then the next, chronic, stage appears.....

Korsakoff Psychosis

This is the chronic phase of the Syndrome. Symptoms can include:

-An inability to remember the recent past, although long term memory might be perfect.
-Sometimes someone with Korsakoff Psychosis might not even have long term memories. A total shutdown of memory.
-Fabrication. Because the sufferer can't remember anything they will make up stories to fill in the gaps.
-Unable to engage in meaningful dialog.
-Apathy, sufferers lose interest in things quickly and generally appear indifferent to change.