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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Transient global amneisa history and symptoms

Introduction

History

History

  • Transient global amnesia typically presents with a sudden onset of memory disturbance in a middle-aged or older person.[1]
  • The episode is characterized by complete inability to retain new information for several hours.[2]Ë’[3]
  • During the attack, there is anterograde amnesia together with a period of retrograde amnesia that may extend back for hours, days, or longer.[3]
  • Patients often reveal their difficulty through repetitive, stereotyped questions, sometimes asked repeatedly at short intervals.[2]
  • Personal identity is preserved, and patients can usually state their name and recognize close relatives.[3]
  • Episodes may be preceded by physical or mental shock or extreme exertion, such as cold-water exposure, news of a death, sexual intercourse, assault, medical procedures, or severe pain, although many cases have no obvious precipitant.[1]
Symptoms

Symptoms

  • Sudden inability to form new memories.[2]Ë’[3]
  • Retrograde memory loss for a period before the event.[3]
  • Repetitive questioning.[2]
  • Preserved alertness and preservation of other cognitive functions apart from memory.[3]
  • No loss of personal identity.[3]
  • After the episode, some patients report a mild headache.
  • Nausea and dizziness have been reported infrequently.
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Miller JW, Petersen RC, Metter EJ, Millikan CH, Yanagihara T (May 1987). “Transient global amnesia: clinical characteristics and prognosis”. Neurology. 37 (5): 733–7. doi:10.1212/wnl.37.5.733. PMID 3574671.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Caplan LR (October 2022). “Transient global amnesia. What’s in a name?”. J Neurol Sci. 441: 120348. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2022.120348. PMID 35940029 Check |pmid= value (help).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Hodges JR, Warlow CP (October 1990). “Syndromes of transient amnesia: towards a classification. A study of 153 cases”. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 53 (10): 834–43. doi:10.1136/jnnp.53.10.834. PMC 488242. PMID 2266362.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hasnain Ali Moryani, MBBS.