Anterograde amnesia

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

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

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

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

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

• Memory disorders
• Neurology
• Cognitive neuroscience