OVERVIEW
Amnesia is the loss of memories including facts, information and experiences. People with amnesia also called amnestic syndrome, usually know who they are but they may have trouble learning and forming new information. There are many possible causes of it. Sometimes it’s a symptom of other conditions but it can also happen on its own. There is no specific treatment for amnesia, but treatment can be directed at the underlying cause.
Symptoms
- changes in the ability to remember events or things that happened
- difficulty recalling names and faces
- not remembering locations and how to get to them
- confusion
- partial or total loss of all memory
- impaired ability to learn new information
- Experiencing false memories, which are either completely invented memories or real memories misplaced in time (also known as confabulation)
Causes
Neurological causes
Neurological causes of amnesia involve damage to your brain activity. The possible causes include:
- Brain tumors
- Cerebral hypoxia
- drugs and medications
- epilepsy and seizures
- head injuries like concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Infections
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Brain aneurysms
- stroke
- transient global amnesia
Psychological causes of amnesia
The onset of amnesia can also be in connection with mental health issues. Examples include dissociative disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Prevention
Some causes of amnesia are preventable and below are some steps you can take to prevent it:
- eat a balanced diet
- wear safety equipment
- don’t ignore eye or ear infection as they could spread to your brain
- get enough sleep
- maintain a healthy weight
- stay mentally active
- quit using tobacco products