Amnesia or memory loss is a disorder that causes a person to be unable to remember facts, information, or events that have been experienced. Although mild, memory disorders due to amnesia can also disrupt the sufferer’s life.
Amnesia is characterized by the loss of some or all of the sufferer’s memory. However, amnesia sufferers can generally still remember their identity, only they tend to have difficulty remembering new things or remembering past events.
Amnesia is often associated with
dementia, but the two are different conditions. Amnesia refers to a temporary or permanent loss of memory, while dementia is a memory disorder and a decline in cognitive function.
Causes of Amnesia
Amnesia is caused by damage to the limbic system in the brain. The limbic system is the part that plays a role in regulating a person’s memories and emotions.
Damage to the limbic system can be caused by a number of the following conditions:
- Stroke
- Head injury, for example due to an accident
- Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain
- Seizures
- Brain tumor
- Degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Long-term habit of consuming alcoholic beverages
- Consumption of certain medications, such as benzodiazepines and tranquilizers
- Decreased oxygen supply to the brain, for example due to carbon monoxide poisoning, respiratory problems, or a heart attack.
- Psychological trauma, for example due to sexual harassment
Symptoms of Amnesia
The main symptom of amnesia is loss of past memories or difficulty remembering new things. Based on the symptoms that appear, amnesia can be divided into several types, namely:
Anterograde amnesia
This type of amnesia makes it difficult for sufferers to form new memories. Memory disorders experienced by sufferers of anterograde amnesia can be temporary, for example after someone consumes alcohol. However, this type of amnesia can also be permanent if there is damage to the brain.
Retrograde amnesia
In this condition, the sufferer cannot remember information or events in the past. This disorder can begin with the loss of newly formed memories, then continue with the loss of older memories, such as childhood memories.
Transient global amnesia
Transient global amnesia is still not fully understood. However, memory loss in this condition is usually mild and temporary. When experiencing this type of amnesia, sufferers will feel confused or restless that comes and goes and recurs.
Infantile amnesia
Infantile amnesis is a condition that causes a person to be unable to remember events that occurred in the first 3 to 5 years of their life. This condition is also called childhood amnesia.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you experience memory loss, especially if it interferes with your daily activities. Early examination is needed to find out the cause of the complaint being felt.
People with amnesia may not be aware of their condition. If you see symptoms of amnesia in someone, you should immediately take them to the doctor. An examination needs to be done immediately if they experience sudden memory loss, especially after a head injury .
Diagnosis of Amnesia
The doctor will ask questions about the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and medications the patient is or has been taking. If the patient has difficulty answering the questions asked, the doctor will ask questions with family members or relatives of the patient.
In addition, the doctor will also perform a thorough physical examination, including a neurological examination (nervous system function).
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will recommend that the patient undergo a series of the following supporting examinations:
- Cognitive tests, to check thinking and remembering abilities
- Blood tests, to detect infections in the brain
- MRI or CT scan, to check for damage, bleeding, and brain tumors.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG), to detect electrical activity in the brain
Amnesia Treatment
Amnesia treatment aims to improve memory impairment and address the underlying cause of amnesia. Treatment methods that can be performed include:
Drugs
Until now, there is no medicine that can restore the memory of amnesia sufferers. However, doctors can prescribe medication to treat the underlying cause of amnesia. Vitamin supplements are also sometimes given to prevent further damage to the nervous system.
Occupational therapy
Patients will be advised to undergo occupational therapy. This therapy aims to help patients recognize new information and utilize existing memories.
Use of assistive devices
The use of assistive devices, such as smartphones , telephones, and electronic agendas, will help patients remember daily activities.
In addition, notebooks and photographs, such as photographs of places or people, can also be used by patients to remember events or people around them.
Complications of Amnesia
Amnesia can disrupt the sufferer’s daily life. If it occurs continuously, this condition can cause a decrease in quality of life. Sufferers can have difficulty working, going to school, or socializing due to this condition.
If amnesia is severe enough, some sufferers may even need supervision or stay in a rehabilitation institution.
Amnesia Prevention
Amnesia is caused by damage to the brain. The best way to prevent amnesia is to avoid injury and disturbance to the brain. Here are some things you can do:
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages excessively
- Wear safety equipment when driving, such as a helmet when riding a motorbike or a seat belt when driving a car.
- Eat a balanced nutritious diet and maintain ideal body weight to avoid stroke.
- Have regular check-ups with your doctor if you suffer from an infectious disease to reduce the risk of it spreading to the brain.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of a stroke or brain aneurysm, such as severe headache, numbness, or paralysis on one side of the body.
SOURCE:
Ferguson, M. et al. (2019). A Human Memory Circuit Derived from Brain Lesions Causing Amnesia. Nature Communications, 10(1), pp. 1–9.
Luis, C. & Ryan, T. (2018). United States of Amnesia: Rescuing Memory Loss from Diverse Conditions. Disease Models & Mechanisms, 11(5), pp. dmm035055.
National Institutes of Health (2021). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Traumatic Brain Injury: Hope Through Research.
National Health Service UK (2020). Health A to Z. Memory Loss (Amnesia).
Cleveland Clinic (2020). Diseases & Conditions. Amnesia.
Mayo Clinic (2020). Diseases & Conditions. Amnesia.
Barclay, R. & Goldman, L. Healthline (2021). Understanding Amnesia.
Huang, J. MSD Manual (2021). Amnesia.
WebMD (2021). What to Know About Amnesia.