Memory Loss (Amnesia), A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

Memory loss (amnesia) is a medical disorder of unusual forgetfulness. The patient may not remember new events; recall one or more memories of the past, or both. The memory loss may be for a short time and then recover (transient). Or, it may not go away (permanent), and, depending on the cause, it can get worse over time. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to move new information from the short-term store into the long-term store.
People with this form of amnesia cannot retain information for long periods of time. Anterograde amnesia indicates the inability to form new memories due to brain injury, while long-term memories from before the event emain integral. The brain damage can be produced by:a. The effects of long-term alcoholism, alcohol abuse resulting in thiamin (vitamin B-1) deficiencyb. Degenerative brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, c.
Stroke, d. Head traumaRetrograde amnesia indicates to inability to remember memories before onset of amnesia. One may be able to retain new memories after the incident. Retrograde amnesia is the inability to regain information that was obtained before a particular date, normally the date of an accident or operationIn some patients the memory loss can extend back decades, while in others the person may lose only a few months of memory.
Retrograde is normally induced by head trauma or brain injury to parts of the brain besides the hippocampus. Post-traumatic amnesia is normally due to a head injury (a fall, a knock on the head). Traumatic amnesia is often temporary but may be permanent or either anterograde, retrograde, or mixed type. Dissociative amnesia occurs from a psychological cause as opposed to direct injury to the brain produced by head injury, physical trauma or disease which is identified as organic amnesia.
Dissociative amnesia arises from emotional shock or trauma such as being the sufferer of a violent crime. Memory loss is not similar to dementiaTo diagnose amnesia, a doctor will do a complete examination to exclude other possible causes of memory loss, such as Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia, depression or brain tumor. Diagnosis varies from physical examination and blood tests to MRI brain scans.
Many forms of amnesia can be fixed without being treated. Cognitive therapy normally through a speech therapist may be useful for mild to moderate memory loss. Concussion -related amnesia needs medication and restDoctors are testing several neurotransmitters needed in memory formation which may one day result in new treatments for memory disordersTABLE OF CONTENTIntroductionChapter 1 Memory Loss (Amnesia)Chapter 2 CauseChapter 3 SymptomsChapter 4 DiagnosisChapter 5 TreatmentChapter 6 PrognosisChapter 7 StrokeChapter 8 Head InjuryEpilogueMemory loss is a neurogenerative brain diseaseIt is an infection that can occur at any age.
Amnesia can be caused by many different thingsIt may due to infections, injuries, medicines and drinkingDiagnosis is based on signs and symptoms such as loss of memoryCT scan or MRI of the head, blood tests and cerebral angiographyMost people with amnesia have problems with short-term memoryIsolated memory loss does not affect a person's intelligence or personalityTreatment for amnesia focuses on techniques and strategiesTreatment of mild amnesia may not be necessaryTreat alcoholism and preventing illegal drugs and medicationWernicke-Korsakoff syndrome requires thiamin and proper nutritionOne way is cognitive or occupational therapyThe treatment for amnesia depends on the etiologyBrain infections and injury are considered medical emergencySuspected encephalitis and trauma need to be treated urgently-An original poem ...