Anterograde amnesia

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Anterograde amnesia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to form new memories following the event that caused the amnesia, while long-term memories from before the event remain intact. This condition is distinct from retrograde amnesia, which involves the loss of pre-existing memories.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Anterograde amnesia can be caused by damage to structures in the brain that are involved in the processing and storage of memories. These structures include the hippocampus, diencephalon, and basal forebrain. Damage can occur due to a variety of factors, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, encephalitis, brain tumor, or conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or Korsakoff's syndrome.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

The primary symptom of anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories. This can manifest as difficulty remembering recent events or learning new information. Other symptoms can include confabulation, where the individual creates false memories to fill in gaps in their memory, and anomia, a difficulty naming objects or people.

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis of anterograde amnesia is typically made through a combination of neuropsychological testing, patient history, and sometimes brain imaging techniques such as MRI or CT scan. Neuropsychological tests may assess memory, attention, language, and problem-solving skills.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

There is currently no cure for anterograde amnesia, but treatment can help manage the condition. This may involve cognitive therapy to improve memory and problem-solving skills, medication to manage any underlying conditions, and lifestyle modifications to reduce the impact of the memory loss.

See also[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Anterograde amnesia

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AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Anterograde amnesia: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


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