An area of Glasgow has the world's highest incidence of a rare type of alcohol-related brain damage, it has emerged.

Korsakov's syndrome is an irreversible condition which causes patients to lose their short-term memory.

The high prevalence of the condition in the east end of Glasgow is highlighted in BBC Scotland's Frontline programme.

Females are catching up in the drinking stakes

It also highlights concerns over the amount of binge drinking by young women north of the border.

Recent studies have found that the west coast has more cases of Korsakov's syndrome than anywhere else in the world.

The problem is not brought on by drinking, but by stopping suddenly.

The sufferer's body is unable to cope and needs a course of vitamins to see it through the detox period.

However, while 400 people are diagnosed every year in Scotland there are only 20 beds devoted to caring for the sufferers.

Increasing awareness

The Scottish Executive says that a group of experts is assessing the extent of the problem.

It also hopes to prevent more cases of the disease by increasing awareness.

The documentary examines the steady rise in alcohol-related injuries, psychiatric conditions, cirrhosis, cancer, and brain disease in Scotland.

If we do nothing now we will just see the problem spin out of control

Dr Andrew Fraser Deputy chief medical officer

It says that one in four young Scottish women are drinking more than the recommended weekly limit of 14 units of alcohol.

This figure has almost doubled in the last decade.

Dr Moira Plant, from the University of the West of England, said that binge drinking was still relatively new for young women.

"I think it is becoming a cause for concern now," she said.

Professor Gerald Hastings, of Strathclyde University, said women had become much freer over the last generation.

"Marriage has been delayed, they're getting much more into the workforce, they've got much more equal opportunities.

Out of control

"All wonderful things, all to be applauded. But alcohol is increasingly being promoted to fill some of the needs that come with that, so it's been equated with independence, with freedom, with equality with men," he said.

Scotland's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Andrew Fraser, says: "I think we have to re-learn our relationship with alcohol.

"If we do nothing now we will just see the problem spin out of control.

"Alcohol will take control of many aspects of our lives."

Scots on the Rocks will be screened at 2235 GMT on Tuesday.