Amnesia is a condition in which memory is disturbed.
There are two main types of amnesia: Retrograde Amnesia and
Anterograde Amnesia. Retrograde amnesia is a form of amnesia
where the individual will be unable to recall events that occurred
before the onset of amnesia. Anterograde Amnesia is a form of amnesia,
or memory loss, where the individual will be unable to recall new events
that occurred after the onset of amnesia. An anterograde amnesiac is unable
to transfer or encode new events into long term memory, and will not be able
to remember anthing after his or her attention is shifted away from the topic
for more than a few seconds.
Etiology
There are many causes of amnesia which include brain surgery or neurosurgery, infections that damage brain tissue, stroke, physical head trauma, the onset of disease, deterioration of brain cells, drug or alcohol abuse, and poor or reduced blood flow to the brain. Some examples of infections that can damage brain tissue include encephalitis and herpes. Memory loss due to a vitamin B deficiency resulting from the overconsumption of alcohol or excessive malnutrition is called Korsakoff's Syndrome. Examples of head injuries which can lead to amnesia are blunt head trauma, car accidents or severe falls.
Prognosis
Anterograde amnesia is a clinical problem characterized by four common outcomes or features:
Normal immediate recall
Impaired ability to learn declarative tasks
Relatively spared ability to retrieve previously learned material
Preserved cognitive and personality characteristics.
It is unlikely that the outcome from a blunt blow to the head will produce immediate recovery from amnesia. Therefore, the outcome of amnesia is commonly impaired memory with no cognitive deviations.
Treatment
Treatment of amnesia is heavily dependent on the cause or root of the onset of amnesia. Therefore, the path of treatment is done on a specific and individual basis. Cognitive rehabilitation may be helpful in learning new strategies to cope with memory loss. The individual suffering this disorder may also want psychiatric treatment to cope with their new way of life. This may ease the individual into thier new phase as well as decrease any emotional trauma that may arise. Down the line, a nursing home or another extended care option may be needed to care for the individual if daily tasks are unmanagable.
Amnesia is a condition in which memory is disturbed.
There are two main types of amnesia: Retrograde Amnesia and
Anterograde Amnesia. Retrograde amnesia is a form of amnesia
where the individual will be unable to recall events that occurred
before the onset of amnesia. Anterograde Amnesia is a form of amnesia,
or memory loss, where the individual will be unable to recall new events
that occurred after the onset of amnesia. An anterograde amnesiac is unable
to transfer or encode new events into long term memory, and will not be able
to remember anthing after his or her attention is shifted away from the topic
for more than a few seconds.
There are many causes of amnesia which include brain surgery or neurosurgery, infections that damage brain tissue, stroke, physical head trauma, the onset of disease, deterioration of brain cells, drug or alcohol abuse, and poor or reduced blood flow to the brain. Some examples of infections that can damage brain tissue include encephalitis and herpes. Memory loss due to a vitamin B deficiency resulting from the overconsumption of alcohol or excessive malnutrition is called Korsakoff's Syndrome. Examples of head injuries which can lead to amnesia are blunt head trauma, car accidents or severe falls.
Anterograde amnesia is a clinical problem characterized by four common outcomes or features:
Treatment of amnesia is heavily dependent on the cause or root of the onset of amnesia. Therefore, the path of treatment is done on a specific and individual basis. Cognitive rehabilitation may be helpful in learning new strategies to cope with memory loss. The individual suffering this disorder may also want psychiatric treatment to cope with their new way of life. This may ease the individual into thier new phase as well as decrease any emotional trauma that may arise. Down the line, a nursing home or another extended care option may be needed to care for the individual if daily tasks are unmanagable.