AMNESIA

Amnesia is when a person can no longer recall information stored in their

memory. There are many types of amnesia. Their symptoms can overlap, and a
person can have multiple types. A person who is a little forgetful in their day-to-
day life does not have amnesia. Amnesia refers to a large-scale loss of long-term
memory due to illness, brain injury, or psychological trauma.

What is amnesia?
A person’s ability to recall events and experiences involves a variety of complex
brain processes. Researchers still do not understand exactly what happens when
a person commits something to memory or retrieves information stored in the
brain.
When a person develops amnesia, they often lose memories of important
milestones, key events or people in their life, and vital facts they have learned.
Most people with amnesia are lucid and have a sense of self. In some
cases, they may have full memories up to a certain point in time but have
difficulty remembering things afterward. In other cases, they will lose memories
from before a point in time. More often, the memory loss is patchy, with a person
losing memories of certain events.
Some people with amnesia find it hard to imagine the future. This is because the
human brain constructs future scenarios based on its recollections of past
experiences.
Types of amnesia
Several different conditions involve amnesia, and there are many types of
amnesia. Some features of different types of amnesia can overlap, and a person
can have more than one type. Amnesia can be temporary or long lasting.
The most common types of amnesia are:

 Anterograde amnesia: A person with anterograde amnesia cannot

remember new information. This usually results from brain trauma, such as
a blow to the head that causes brain damage. The person will have their
full memory from the time before the injury.
 Retrograde amnesia: In some ways the opposite of anterograde amnesia,
retrograde amnesia is when a person cannot remember events that
occurred before their trauma, but they can remember what happened after
it. In rare cases, both retrograde and anterograde amnesia can occur
together.

 Transient global amnesia: This is a temporary loss of all memory and, in

severe cases, difficulty forming new memories. This is very rare and more
likely in older adults with vascular (blood vessel) disease .
 Traumatic amnesia: This refers to memory loss resulting from a hard
blow to the head, for instance, in a car accident. The person may
experience a brief loss of consciousness or coma. This type of amnesia is
usually temporary, but its duration often depends on the severity of the
injury. Amnesia can be an important indicator of concussion.
 Fugue or dissociative amnesia: Rarely, a person can forget both their
past and their identity. They may wake up and suddenly have no sense of
who they are. The trigger is usually a traumatic event. The ability to
remember commonly returns within minutes, hours, or days, but the
memory of the triggering event may never come back completely.
 Posthypnotic amnesia: A person cannot recall what occurred while they
experienced hypnosis.
  Source amnesia: A person can remember certain information but not how
or where they got it.
 Alcohol-induced amnesia: Also called a blackout, this is when a bout of
heavy drinking leaves a person with memory gaps.
 Prosopamnesia: The person cannot remember faces. People can
either acquire Trusted Source it or be born with it.
Another type of amnesia is childhood amnesia, or infantile amnesia. However,
this is not an actual disorder. A young child’s language and memory are still
developing. As a result, most adults cannot recall Trusted Source events from early
childhood.

Causes

Any disease or injury that affects the brain can interfere with memory. Memory
function engages many different parts of the brain simultaneously.

Damage to brain structures that form the limbic system, such as

the hippocampus and thalamus, can lead to amnesia. The limbic system controls
a person’s emotions and memories.

Medical causes

Amnesia may result from brain injury or damage. Possible causes include:

 Stroke

 illnesses that cause encephalitis, or brain inflammation, which typically

include bacterial or viral infection or autoimmune reaction
 oxygen deprivation, which may result from a heart attack, respiratory
distress, or carbon monoxide poisoning
  some medications, such as the insomnia drug Ambien
 subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding in the area between the skull and
the brain
 a brain tumor that affects a part of the brain involved in memory
 some seizure disorders
 head injuries, which can lead to loss of memory that is usually temporary
 surgery and anesthesia, which may cause a person to have trouble
remembering what happened right before or after the procedure

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a condition caused by extended alcohol misuse

or thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency, can lead to progressive memory loss that
worsens over time. It can also lead to neurological problems, such as poor
coordination and loss of feeling in the toes and fingers.

Psychological amnesia

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM–5) lists
amnesia as a type of dissociative disorder. This usually refers to anterograde or
retrograde amnesia caused by psychological trauma or stress without the
presence of any physical cause. Examples of dissociative conditions that can
present with amnesia include:

 dissociative fugue
 dissociative identity disorder
 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
 acute stress disorder

Contributing traumatic causes or triggers can include:

 experiencing violent crime or a terrorist attack

  being sexually, physically, or emotionally abused
 experiencing trauma while serving in the military
 surviving a natural disaster

Any intolerable life situation that causes severe psychological stress and internal
conflict can lead to some degree of amnesia. Psychological stressors are more
likely to disrupt personal, historical memories rather than interfere with forming
new memories.

Amnesia symptoms

The following are common symptoms of different types of amnesia:

 impaired ability to learn new information (anterograde amnesia)

 impaired ability to remember past events and previously familiar
information (retrograde amnesia)

 experiencing false memories, which are either completely invented

memories or real memories misplaced in time — a phenomenon
known as confabulation
 impaired short-term memory
 partial or total loss of all memory
 confusion

Diagnosis

A doctor will need to rule out other possible types of memory loss, including
those caused by dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, or a brain tumor.

The doctor will take a detailed medical history, which may be difficult if the
person does not remember. Family members or caregivers may need to be
present.
The doctor will need the person with amnesia’s permission to talk about their
medical details with somebody else.

Questions may include:

 Can the person remember recent events and events further back in time?
 When did the memory problems start?
 How did they develop?
 Could any factors have caused the memory loss, such as a head injury,
surgery, or stroke?
 Is there a family history of any neurological or psychiatric conditions?
 Does the person consume alcohol?

 Are they taking any medication?

 Have they taken illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin?
 Are the symptoms undermining their ability to look after themselves?
 Do they have a history of depression or seizures?
 Have they ever had cancer?

The doctor will also do a physical exam that might include checking certain brain
and nervous system functions, such as:

 Reflexes
 Sensory functions
 Balance

The doctor may also check the person’s:

 Judgement
 Short-term memory
 Long-term memory
The memory assessment will help determine the extent of memory loss. This will
help find the best treatment. To find out whether there is any physical damage or
brain abnormality, the doctor may order an MRI, CAT scan,
or electroencephalogram (EEG). Blood tests may reveal the presence of any
infection or nutritional deficiencies.

Treatment

In many cases, amnesia resolves without treatment. However, if an underlying

physical or mental disorder is present, treatment for that condition may be
necessary.

Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help some people with
amnesia. Hypnosis can be an effective way of recalling forgotten memories.
Working on retrieving memories and managing psychological issues that may
have contributed to amnesia are important aspects of any amnesia treatment.

Meditation and related mindfulness activities may help a person relax the mind,
which may help retrieve forgotten memories.

Family support is also crucial. Showing the person photographs of past events,
exposing them to familiar smells, and playing familiar music may help.

There are currently no drugs available for restoring memory lost due to amnesia.
However, there are treatments for the underlying causes.

For example, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) can involve memory loss due
to a thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency, so targeted nutrition that supports any
nutritional deficits can help. Whole grain cereals, legumes (beans and lentils),
nuts, lean pork, and yeast are rich sources of thiamin. Those with WKS also
need to stop drinking alcohol.

People with amnesia due to head trauma may need surgery to remove blood
buildup in the brain. People with encephalitis may need anti-inflammatory
medications.
Preventing amnesia

A person can help reduce the risk of amnesia by:

 wearing protective headgear during activities that could result in a brain

injury, such as cycling, skating, skiing, or playing contact sports
 getting medical attention if there’s a high fever, stiff neck, or severe
headaches, which can be a sign of an infection affecting the brain
 wearing a seatbelt while traveling in a motor vehicle, and never driving
while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
 having eyes checked annually to help prevent falls, especially if above the
age of 65 years
 exercising regularly to reduce the risk of a stroke
 eating a healthy diet that includes leafy green vegetables and
avoids saturated fats to help prevent cardiovascular problems that can
contribute to memory problems
 getting psychological treatment or encouraging a friend or loved one to
seek treatment if they have experienced trauma

Outlook

Amnesia often resolves on its own without treatment.

A person should speak with a doctor to determine the reason for their memory
loss. The sooner they start treatment, the more successful it is likely to be.

The following are some questions a person may ask a doctor:

 What are the possible causes of my memory loss?

 Could my memory loss be permanent?
 What treatments do you recommend to help restore my memory?
 What tests do you recommend, and how should I prepare for them?
  Will any lifestyle changes be necessary to help get my memory back?

Living With

How do I take care of myself?

People with amnesia can often compensate for their memory loss in multiple
ways. Some use lists and notes to compensate or use smartphone apps or other
forms of technology. Family, friends and loved ones may also help by supporting
your efforts to regain your memories (if and when it’s possible) and recover from
whatever caused your amnesia.

People with amnesia from degenerative brain diseases or who have anterograde
amnesia (and can’t form or store new memories) usually need support or medical
care 24/7 (like with family members or in a skilled nursing facility).

When should I see my healthcare provider/When should I

seek care?
If you have memory loss that begins and develops slowly, you might not be able
to recognize it in yourself. It’s more likely that a loved one will notice it first. If you
notice it in yourself, asking for help is a good idea. Everyone needs support at
some point, and there’s no shame in admitting that you need it.

Often, a loved one will be the first to notice signs of memory loss. If you notice it
in someone you care about, they may not want to admit that something’s wrong
or might not feel like that’s the case. If that happens, it’s best to do and keep the
following in mind:

 Listen and ask how you can help.

 Encourage them to see a healthcare provider.
 Reassure and offer empathy and compassion.
 Stay calm, don’t argue and don’t take resistance personally.
 Don’t be afraid to ask for help or resources yourself.

If a loved one needs more care and support than you can offer, don’t be afraid to
look for alternatives or ask for help. Seeking long-term care options for a loved
one might be the best way to keep them safe and maintain their quality of life.

When should I go to the hospital or emergency room?

Sudden memory loss in yourself or someone you’re with is always a sign to get
medical attention. That’s the best, safest course of action regardless of whether
there’s an obvious cause.

If you have any kind of memory loss after a head injury or an impact that might
cause whiplash, you need medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t pass
out, not remembering an injury right after it happens could be a sign of a
concussion or traumatic brain injury.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21455-amnesia
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9673
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia
https://www.healthline.com/health/amnesia