is a sudden, temporary interruption of short-term memory. Although patients may be disoriented, not know where they are or be confused about time, they are otherwise alert, attentive and have normal thinking abilities.
The diagnosis is largely a diagnosis of exclusion.
global amnesia
Sudden
Temporary
loss of short-term memory
not being able to form new memories
Remember their own identity, do not lose self-awareness
No focal neurolgoical symptoms
Symptoms include:
Anxiety and agitation
Repeatedly asking questions about what is happening
Retaining personal identity during the episode
Able to complete complex routine tasks during the episode
Absence of signs suggesting damage to the brain tissue
Episodes end in 1-8 hours, no more than 24
Causes and Risk Factors
The cause of transient global amnesia is unknown.
People older than 50 are more likely to experience TGA.
Research suggests there also may be a link between patients who have a history of migraines and those who experience TGA.
In most cases, there is no activity that triggers a transient global amnesia episode.
In rare cases, certain events can trigger an episode, including: