Amnesia research paper

What is amnesia

Amnesia is a form of memory loss.

 Amnesia may result from brain injury or damage. Possible

causes include: stroke; illnesses that cause encephalitis, or brain
inflammation, which typically include bacterial or viral infection
or autoimmune reaction; oxygen deprivation, which may result
from a heart attack, respiratory distress, or carbon monoxide
poisoning ; some medications, such as the insomnia 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 ; head
injuries, which can lead to loss of memory that is usually
temporary ; surgery and anesthesia, which may cause a person
to have trouble remembering what happened right before or after
the procedure, Degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
disease
 Cardiac arrest.
 Thyroid issues.
 Alcohol use disorder.
 Vitamin B1 (thiamine) or B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency.
 Radiation.
 High levels of corticosteroids.

 The syndrome can cause problems at work, at school and in social

settings, additionnaly, Risk of suicidal behaviors may be increased
when amnesia resolves suddenly and patients are overwhelmed by
the traumatic memories.

Depressive and functional neurologic symptoms are also common,

as are suicidal and other self-destructive behaviors, The person
may lose self-confidence and be embarrassed by their difficulties.
They may begin to withdraw from social situations or stop doing
 things they usually do. Memory loss can also lead to people
misplacing items that they then might think others have moved or
stolen

 It affects about 1% of men and people assigned male at birth and

2.6% of women and people assigned female at birth in the general
population. The environment also plays a role. Rates of dissociative
amnesia tend to increase after natural disasters and during war.

The prognosis for dissociative amnesia is highly dependent on the

individual. Life circumstances, recollection of memories,
adjustment and relief from amnesia stressors all impact how an
individual will fare after diagnosis and treatment. ²

DIAGNOSIS

A doctor will need to rule out other possible types of memory loss,
including those caused by dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, depression,
or a brain tumor.

The doctor will take a detailed medical history

To diagnosis amnesia those type of Questions may be asked :

 Can the person remember recent events and events further back
in time?
 When did the memory problems start?
 How did they develop?
 Could any factors have caused the memory loss, such as a head
injury, surgery, or stroke?
 Is there a family history of any neurological or psychiatric
conditions?
 Does the person consume alcohol?
 Are they taking any medication?
  Have they taken illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin?
 Are the symptoms undermining their ability to look after
themselves?
 Do they have a history of depression or seizures?
 Have they ever had cancer?

The doctor will also do a physical exam that might include checking
certain brain and nervous system functions, such as:

 reflexes
 sensory function
 balance

The doctor may also check the person’s:

 judgment
 short-term memory
 long-term memory

The memory assessment will help determine the extent of memory

loss. This will help find the best treatment.

To find out whether there is any physical damage or brain

abnormality, the doctor may order an MRI, CAT scan,
or electroencephalogram (EEG).

Blood tests may reveal the presence of any infection or nutritional

deficiencies.

SYMPTOMS

 impaired ability to learn new information (anterograde amnesia)

  impaired ability to remember past events and previously familiar
information (retrograde amnesia)
 experiencing false memories, which are either completely
invented memories or real memories misplaced in time
 impaired short-term memory
 partial or total loss of all memory
 confusion

Risk factors

 a history of migraine attacks.

 cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure
or high cholesterol.
 brain injury or surgery.
 stroke.
 emotional stress.

 Alcohol abuse.

Prevention

 Exercise. Including physical activity in your daily routine is the

most important action you can take to help keep your memory
sharp. ...
 Eat a Healthy Diet. ...
 Stay Mentally Active. ...
 Sleep Well. ...

 Stay Social. Social interaction is crucial for brain health.

 See Your Doctor Regularly.

Treatment
Occupational therapy

You may work with an occupational therapist to learn new

information and replace what was lost. Or you may use intact
memories as a basis for taking in new information.

Memory training also may include strategies for organizing

information so that it's easier to remember and for better
understanding when talking to others.

Technological assistance

Many people with amnesia find it helpful to use smart technology,

such as a smartphone or a hand-held tablet. With some training and
practice, even people with severe amnesia can use electronic
organizers to help with day-to-day tasks.

Low-tech memory aids include notebooks, wall calendars, pill

minders, and photographs of people and places.

Medications or supplements

No medicines are currently available for treating most types of

amnesia.

If Alzheimer's disease is the cause of the amnesia, treatment with

medicines called cholinesterase inhibitors can help with symptoms.

Research may one day lead to new treatments for memory disorders.
But the complexity of the brain processes involved makes it unlikely
that a single medicine will be able to resolve memory problems.

Fun fact

It is much more common for people with amnesia to be unable to

form new memories than to forget their past.

Sources
The Oregonian

Mayo clinic

South valley neurology

The recovery village

Alzeimer s society

Merckmanuals

SimplyPsychology

MedicalNewsToday

Clevelandclinic

betterhealth