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Introduction to Amnesia

It is common for everyone to forget things occasionally. Some people can’t find their car keys; some may forget their grocery list and some people can’t remember the names of the persons who are close to them. Even though it looks a small thing, but memory loss is nothing to take lightly.

Continue your reading of online health advice on everything that you must know about short-term memory loss Amnesia’s symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and self-care, and help or support for amnesia patients. Read now more about the short-term memory loss medical term is Amnesia. Find here what does amnesia mean in many popular languages.

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If YES, then Read now this amnesia disorder article and learn everything you want to know more about amnesia memory loss. Find now what does amnesia mean in world popular languages.

Language wise Short term Memory Loss Medical term:

Amnesia in Spanish

• Amnesia – meaning in Spanish

Amnesia in Hindi

• भूलने की बीमारी (bhoolane kee beemaaree) – Meaning in Hindi

Amnesia in French

• amnésie – Meaning in French

Amnesia in Japan

• 健忘症 (Kenbōshō) – Meaning in Japanese

Amnesia in China

• 健忘症 (Jiànwàng zhèng) – Meaning in China

Amnesia in Tamil

• மறதி நோய் (Maṟati nōy)

Amnesia in Telugu

• మతిమరుపు (Mathimarupu) – meaning in Telugu

Amnesia in Punjabi

• ਐਮਨੀਸੀਏ (Aimanīsī’ē) – meaning in Punjabi

Amnesia in Arabic

• فقدان الذاكرة (fiqdan aldhaakira) – meaning in Arabic

What is Amnesia?

Amnesia is a form of memory loss i.e. the loss of the everyday sense of memory responsible for knowing facts, events, information, and experiences. They can’t recall facts or past experiences and information.

Most people with the amnestic syndrome have problems with short-term memory and they can’t retain new information but they usually maintain knowledge of their own identity, as well as motor skills such as the ability to walk, fluency in any languages they speak, etc.

Amnesia doesn’t affect a person’s intelligence, general knowledge, awareness, attention span, judgment, personality or identity. Mild memory loss is normally a part of aging. Significant memory loss or the inability to remember past memories may indicate the presence of amnesia.

Signs & Symptoms of Amnesia

There is a number of signs and symptoms depending on the cause of Amnesia. They are:

• Impaired ability to learn new information especially in the early stages of recovery but usually doesn’t cause severe amnesia.
• Impaired ability to recall past events and previously familiar information
• Inability to recognize familiar faces or places.
• Neurological problems such as uncoordinated movements or tremors
• In certain types of amnesia, symptoms include a headache, dizziness or nausea.
• Disoriented / Confused
• Depersonalization

These symptoms cause problems for the amnesiacs may be at school, work or in the society. In some cases, the symptoms are severe enough to spoil supervised living. If you’ve experienced any of the problems then the chance of developing amnesia is high.

Causes of Amnesia

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

Damage to brain structures such as the hippocampus and thalamus can lead to amnesia because they form the limbic system which controls our emotions and memories.

Medical amnesia

Medical Amnesia results from brain injury or damage.

Possible causes are:

• Stroke
• Encephalitis, or brain inflammation, due to a bacterial or viral infection or an autoimmune reaction
• Celiac disease may be linked to amnesia, confusion, and personality changes
• Oxygen deprivation, resulting, for example, from a heart attack, respiratory distress, or carbon monoxide poisoning
• Some medications, such as the sleeping 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
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)), or electroshock therapy, a psychiatric treatment where seizures are induced for therapeutic effect, may lead to temporary memory loss
• Head injuries, which can lead to loss of memory that is usually temporary

Psychological amnesia

Psychological Amnesia also is known as dissociative amnesia which can be caused by an emotional shock, such as:

• a violent crime
• sexual or other abuse
• military combat
• a natural disaster
• a terrorist act
• severe inferior complex

Intolerable life situation which causes severe psychological stress and internal conflict will lead to some degree of amnesia. Psychological stressors including disrupt personal, historical memories rather than interfere with laying down new memories.  

What are Different Types of Amnesia?

Types of Memory Loss

Amnesia is the general medical term used to describe memory loss. There are multiple types of amnesia. The different types of memory loss, including:

• retrograde amnesia,
• Anterograde amnesia, and
• Transient global amnesia.
• Psychogenic or dissociative amnesia
• Infantile amnesia or childhood amnesia
• Lacunar amnesia
• Drug-induced amnesia

Retrograde amnesia:

People, who have retrograde amnesia, lose existing and previously made memories. This type of amnesia firstly affects the recently formed memories and older memories like memories from childhood are usually affected more slowly. The disease like dementia causes gradual retrograde amnesia.

Anterograde amnesia:

People with Anterograde amnesia, can’t form new memories. This effect can be temporary. For example, you can experience it during a faint caused by too much alcohol. It can also be permanent sometimes. You can experience it if your hippocampus is damaged. The hippocampus is the area of your brain which plays an important role in forming memories.

Transient global amnesia:

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a condition where you will experience confusion or agitation that comes and goes repeatedly over the course of several hours. You may experience memory loss in the hours before the incident, and you will probably have no lasting memory of the experience.

Scientists believe that TGA may occur due to seizure-like activity or a brief blockage of the blood vessels supplying your brain. It mostly occurs in middle-aged and older adults. In Transient Global Amnesia, memory can be regained largely and there is no memory loss.

Psychogenic or dissociative amnesia:

Psychogenic or dissociative amnesia, this is another rare type of amnesia stems from emotional shock or trauma, such as being the victim of a violent crime. In this type of disorder, a person may lose personal memories for a few hours to days or sometimes longer.

Infantile amnesia or childhood amnesia:

Infantile amnesia or childhood amnesia is a common phenomenon that most people can’t remember the first three to five years of life.

Lacunar amnesia:

This is the loss of memory about one specific event.

Drug-induced amnesia:

This is caused intentionally by the injection of an amnestic drug to help a patient forget surgery or medical procedures, particularly those likely to be traumatic or not performed under full anesthesia.

Risks and Complications of Amnesia

The underlying cause of amnesia determines whether it is temporary or permanent. A major complication of amnesia is the inability to imagine the future. A recent study of the National Academy of Sciences shows that amnesiacs with a damaged hippocampus cannot imagine the future.

This is because when a normal human being imagines the future, they use their past experiences to create a possible situation. But in the case of memory loss people, they cannot remember the past so they cannot imagine what would happen in the future by their past experience.

Do and Don’ts of Amnesia

The root cause of amnesia is mostly the brain injury. To minimize your chance of a brain injury you have to follow some guidelines. This includes:

• Wear a helmet when traveling on a two-wheeler and wear a seat belt when driving a four-wheeler.
• Treat any infection quickly to decrease the chance to spread to the brain.
• Take immediate medical treatment if you have any symptoms that suggest a stroke or a brain aneurysm, like a severe headache or one-sided numbness or paralysis.
• Avoid heavy use of alcohol.
• Avoid the use of drugs.

• Use protective headgear when you’re playing sports that put you at high risk of head injury.
• Stay mentally and physically active throughout your life. Take a break, explore new places, read new books, and play mentally challenging games.
• Eat a healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat proteins.
• Drink more water and Stay hydrated.
• Socialize regularly
• Get organized
• Sleep well
• Manage chronic conditions

Self-care for Amnesia

Amnesia varies in severity and scope, but even mild amnesia brings change in your daily activities and quality of life. The disorder can cause problems at work, at school, and in social settings. In some people with severe memory problems, it may not be possible to recover lost memories and need to live in a supervised situation or extended-care facility.

So it’s important to take steps to minimize your chance of a brain injury because damage to the brain can be a root cause of amnesia. The better you take care of yourself, the better your memory will be.

Keep yourself safe by following the healthy habits which can lower your risk of a blackout, head injuries, dementia, stroke, and other potential causes of memory loss like avoiding the excessive use of alcohol, wearing the helmet, etc.

Preventing amnesia

The following are the various healthy habits that can lower your risk of blackouts, head injuries, dementia, stroke, and other potential causes of memory loss:

• Avoid heavy use of alcohol or drugs.
• Use protective headgear when you’re playing sports that put you at high risk of concussion.
• Stay mentally active throughout your life.
• For instance, take classes, explore new places, read new books, and play mentally challenging games.
• Stay physically active throughout your life.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat proteins.
• Stay hydrated.

Fast facts on amnesia

Here are some key points about amnesia.

1. Amnesia is an inability to lay down new memories, recall old memories, or both.
2. Other symptoms of amnesia can include confusion and uncoordinated movements.
3. Alcohol abuse can lead to a type of amnesia known as Wernicke-Korsakoff’s psychosis.
4. Many things including traumatic experiences and brain injury can cause Amnesia.
5. Amnesia usually resolves without treatment.

Diagnosis for amnesia

Diagnosis for Amnesia can be done by your doctor or a neurologist. To know the exact problem for your memory loss, your doctor will likely do a physical exam, as well as check your memory and problem-solving skills.

They will ask you some questions about your memory loss, as well as other symptoms you may have. They may ask a family member or caregiver to help with their observation, since you may not be able to remember the answers to their questions.

Sometimes other tests are needed to check your memory so the doctors may also order other diagnostic tests like, they may use an MRI or CT scan to check for signs of brain damage, blood tests to check for nutritional deficiencies, infections, or other issues and they may also perform tests to check for your present health.

Medical history

The evaluation starts with a detailed medical history. Because the person with memory loss may not be able to provide thorough information, a family member, friend or another caregiver generally take part in the interview as well.

The doctor may ask many questions in order to understand memory loss. Issues that might be addressed include:

1. Type of memory loss — recent or long-term
2. When the memory problems started and how they progressed
3. Triggering factors, such as a head injury, stroke or surgery
4. Family history, especially of neurological disease
5. Drug and alcohol use
6. Other signs and symptoms, such as confusion, language problems, personality changes or impaired ability to care for self
7. History of seizures, headaches, depression or cancer

Treatment for Amnesia – How to Cure Amnesia

Can amnesia be cured? The Treatment for Amnesia will depend on the underlying cause of your condition. There are many ways available to treat amnesia. The following is a list of some of the most effective methods of amnesia treatment:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This method can help integrate the two hemispheres of the brain to help recall past events. This method was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro.
• Hypnosis: Through hypnosis, it is possible to retrieve lost memories.
• Neuro feedback: This method helps with the abnormality or impairment of the brain and neural hubs. It helps to normalize brain function and restore or make new neural connections.
• Cognitive Therapy: The focus of cognitive therapy is to help an individual to improve thinking, executive functioning, time management, and decision-making by using some strategies. Through this method, the brain can access lost memories frequently.
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy is used to assess the function and potential complications related to the movement of the upper extremities, daily living skills, cognition, vision, and perception.
• Bilateral Sounds: This method is for helping the brain become unstuck and regulated. It is very effective for reeducating the left and right hemispheres, as well as for relieving stress and symptoms of PCS and PTSD. A web-based company, Psych Innovations, produces some commonly used bilateral sounds for this purpose.
• Nutrition: You’re eating habits like what you eat or don’t eat truly affects access and retrieval of memory. If you have some form of amnesia, drinking alcohol and eating sugar will make the position even worse. So eat more protein, especially foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as tuna and sockeye salmon. Try and stick to an anti-inflammatory diet.

Investigations for Amnesia

• Check reflexes sensory function, balance and other physiological aspects of the brain and nervous system through Neurological exam.
• MRI, CT Scan
• Blood tests

Medical advice for Amnesia

• Any person who experiences unexplained memory loss, a head injury, confusion or disorientation needs immediate medical attention.
• If you know someone who has symptoms of amnesia, don’t hesitate to help the person get medical attention.

What you can do

• Write down any unusual symptoms as you experience them, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes you can recall. To ensure your list is complete ask family members or friends to help you.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking.
• Ask a family member or friend to come with you because it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment.
• Bring a notepad and pen or pencil to jot down the points you want to be sure to remember later.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Questions for your doctor:

• What’s the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
• Will my memory ever come back?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Do I need to restrict any activities?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor?

Your doctor may ask you the following questions:

• When did you first notice your memory loss?
• Did you experience any other symptoms at that time?
• Were you involved in any trauma?
• Did an illness or another event seem to trigger the memory loss?
• Does anything help improve your memory?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your memory loss?
• Are the memory problems intermittent or constant?
• Has the memory loss stayed the same or is it getting worse?
• Did the memory loss come on suddenly or gradually?

FAQs of Amnesia

When to seek help for Amnesia?

Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about you or you’re loved once memory loss disorder especially if memory loss affects the ability to complete your usual daily activities.

What is Amnesia?

Amnesia is a neurogenerative disease and it is commonly known as memory loss.

Does Amnesia affect the person’s attitude?

Amnesia doesn’t affect a person’s intelligence, general knowledge, awareness, attention span, judgment, personality or identity.

How is amnesia diagnosed?

Amnesia is diagnosed by a doctor or a neurologist. They will check your health by doing some tests. The doctor may order:

• The tests include an MRI and CT scan to check for brain damage and other abnormalities
• Blood tests to check for the presence of infection, nutritional deficiencies or other issues
• An electroencephalogram to check for seizure activity.

Does amnesia affect children?

Memory loss can also occur in children and when it occurs it is better to seek medical help as early as possible.

Will an amnesiac be able to regain memory?

Recovery of memory is dependent on the causes and the degree of the disorder. It may take up to months or even years and in some unfortunate cases, amnesia is lifelong as it never goes away.

Is alternative medicine useful for treating amnesia?

Herbal therapy recommends the consumption of

1. nuts such as almonds and walnuts
2. fruits such as apples, oranges, dates, figs, and grapes to counter memory loss

How to identify amnesia?

People with amnesia have difficulty in forming new memories and forget past experiences.

Are Amnesia and dementia the same?

Amnesia isn’t the same as dementia. Dementia includes memory loss, but it also involves other issues that lead to a decline in the ability to carry out daily activities.

What can help if you have any of the forms of amnesia?

If you observe any of the symptoms in you or your loved ones, then immediately talk to your doctor or a neurologist.

Is it possible to regain lost memory?

The good news is that there are a way and Hope of regaining your lost memories.

What is neurological amnesia?

This memory loss caused by brain injury or damage is known as neurological or organic amnesia.