Unexpected memory loss is a common symptom of transient global amnesia, a rare form of amnesia. You become incapable of creating new memories or recalling recent events when this occurs. Furthermore, you might not be aware of your location, your purpose, or the date.
Transient Global Amnesia (TGA)
A person with transient global amnesia (TGA), a rare medical condition, might have an abrupt episode of memory loss. A TGA episode causes a person to lose the ability to create new memories (a condition known as anterograde amnesia) and to recall recent memories (a condition known as retrograde amnesia).
Transient refers to “passing,” and TGA episodes typically only last a few hours. TGA can occasionally last up to 24 hours.
People with TGA are able to recall their names and the names of their friends and family. Even now, they are capable of handling difficult daily tasks like driving or cooking. They still have the ability to communicate verbally and socially.
However, during a TGA episode, they might not be aware of their location, the day, or the time.
Causes
Transient global amnesia (TGA)’s exact cause isn’t known. The lack of adequate blood flow or oxygen flow to the brain, known as hypoxia or ischemia, respectively, may be the cause of TGA, according to some studies. TGA might occasionally be a result of brain activity associated with seizures.
Migraine headache appears to be a risk factor for developing TGA. TGA may also be increased by psychological factors like anxiety.
For some people, TGA may occur as a result of certain triggers or events, including:
- Physical exertion
- Emotional or psychological stress
- Sudden immersion in cold or hot water
- Head trauma
- Pain
- Sexual intercourse
- executing the Valsalva maneuver. This breathing technique is one that people intentionally use for purposes such as medical testing, heart-rate control, and other uses. To do it, close your mouth, pinch your nose, and bear down as if having a bowel movement.
One type of TGA is brought on by excessive alcohol use, high barbiturate doses, illegal “street” drugs, or low benzodiazepine doses.
Symptoms
The inability to create new memories or recall recent events is the primary symptom of transient global amnesia, which is distinguishable. After that symptom has been established, it’s critical to rule out any additional amnesia-causing factors.
These signs and symptoms must be present to diagnose transient global amnesia:
- Sudden onset of memory loss, verified by a witness
- Retention of personal identity despite memory loss
- Normal cognition, such as the ability to recognize and name familiar objects and follow simple directions
- Absence of signs indicating damage to a particular area of the brain, such as limb paralysis, involuntary movement, or impaired word recognition
Additional symptoms and history that may help diagnose transient global amnesia:
- Duration of no more than 24 hours and generally shorter
- The gradual return of memory
- No recent head injury
- No evidence of seizures during the period of amnesia
- No history of active epilepsy
Along with these warning signs and symptoms, transient global amnesia is also characterized by repetitive questioning, usually of the same question, such as “What am I doing here?” or “How did we get here?”
Complications
There are no direct side effects of transient global amnesia. It doesn’t increase your risk of having a stroke or epilepsy. Transient global amnesia can occur more than twice, but this is extremely uncommon.
However, even a brief loss of memory can be upsetting. Ask your doctor to go over the outcomes of your neurological exam and diagnostic tests with you if you need reassurance.
Diagnosis
Physical Exam
The first step in the procedure is a neurological examination that looks at reflexes, muscle tone, muscle strength, sensory function, gait, posture, coordination, and balance. The doctor might also ask you questions to assess your memory, judgment, and thinking skills.
Brain And Imaging Tests
The next step is testing to check for variations in the electrical activity and blood flow of the brain. Your doctor might order one or a combination of these tests:
- MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. A magnetic field and radio waves are used in this method to produce fine-grained, cross-sectional images of the brain. The MRI scanner can combine these slices to create 3D images that can be viewed from a variety of perspectives.
- CT scans performed using a computer. Your doctor obtains images using specialized X-ray equipment from a variety of angles, combines them, and displays cross-sectional images of the brain and skull. CT scans can detect structural abnormalities in the brain, such as clogged, stretched, or broken blood vessels, as well as evidence of previous strokes.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG). Electrodes affixed to the scalp are used to record the electrical activity of the brain during an EEG. Even when they are not having a seizure, people with epilepsy frequently have changes in their brain waves. Usually, if you’ve experienced more than one instance of transient global amnesia or if your doctor thinks you’re having seizures, this test will be prescribed.
Risk Factors
It’s interesting to note that conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are strongly associated with strokes, do not increase the risk of transient global amnesia. This is most likely due to the fact that transient global amnesia is not a blood vessel disease associated with aging. Additionally, it doesn’t appear that your sexual orientation influences your risk.
The clearest risk factors are:
- Age. Transient global amnesia is more common in people over the age of 50 than in those under 50.
- History of migraines. You are much more likely to experience transient global amnesia if you suffer from migraines than if you don’t.
Prevention
By avoiding triggers, it might be possible to stop further episodes of transient global amnesia (TGA). These triggers may include:
- Emotional or psychological stress
- Physical exertion
- Sexual intercourse
- Sudden immersion in cold or hot water
- Valsalva maneuver
When To See A Doctor
Any person who suddenly shifts from normal awareness of the present to confusion about what just happened should seek immediate medical attention. You should make the ambulance call if the person suffering from memory loss is too disoriented to do so.
Transient global amnesia is harmless, but it’s difficult to distinguish it from life-threatening conditions that can also cause sudden memory loss.
