Retrograde amnesia is a pathological disorder in which the victim can not recover from events that preceded a stressful or traumatic event. Memory can fall a few hours or days, and sometimes weeks. However, the patient well remembers everything that happened to him in the remote past, especially the brightest moments( wedding, etc.).
- Causes of
- Symptoms of
- Diagnosis of
- Treatment of
Causes of
Retrograde amnesia in adults and children can occur as a result of organic damage to the cerebral cortex. The main factors contributing to the loss of memory include:
- Disorders of the blood supply to the brain due to ischemic stroke, coma, anesthesia.
- Atrophic diseases. Injuries to the central nervous system.
- Toxic effects.
- Tumor neoplasm.
- Infectious lesions of the brain( herpetic encephalitis, etc.).
- Stress and shock situations( after an accident, death of loved ones, etc.).
In most cases, the disease develops against the background of long-standing vascular disorders: these include hypertension and cerebral atherosclerosis. Often, such pathologies are the result of craniocerebral trauma. The development of temporary memory loss is possible even with prolonged alcohol intoxication. In rare cases, this type of amnesia occurs with congenital dementia.
Sometimes the disease has a psychogenic origin and is not an organic brain damage. In this case, treatment is not required.
to contents ^Symptoms of
The main symptom of amnesia is the inability to recall events that occurred before illness or injury. A person forgets what happened to him, how he ended up in the current place and with whom he communicated. He looks disoriented and confused.
For an indefinite time, the victim can hardly perceive the information he has just received and ask the same questions to others. After some time, memory may return, but the person does not remember the attack of amnesia.
Diagnosis
Before you appoint a treatment, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease and all possible influencing external and internal factors. To do this, you will need to undergo an examination with a narcologist, a psychiatrist and a neurologist.
For in-depth diagnostics, special testing of memory functions and examination of infectious disease specialist, traumatologist, neurosurgeon and other narrowly specialized specialists is used. Based on the results of the examination, the following are prescribed:
- Biochemical blood test.
- MRI.
- ECG.
- CT.
- Toxicological Analysis.
Treatment of
Retrograde amnesia in many cases is well treatable. Exceptions are memory disorders, caused by organic brain damage. Treatment begins with the elimination of the main traumatic event or illness, as well as the factors that contributed to the loss of memory.
As a drug therapy, neuroprotectors and antioxidants are used, for example, Memantine, Cerebrolysin, Semax, Cortexin, Citicoline, Ginkgo biloba extract, Glycine, vitamin complexes. Various methods of neuropsychological rehabilitation facilitate early recovery.
If the disease is a consequence of psychological stress or shock, the patient needs the help of a psychologist. In this case, memory impairments are a protective mechanism that protects a person from emotions related to traumatic events.
When the action of the underlying disease and other provocateurs of retrograde amnesia is eliminated, the drug therapy is directed to enhance cholinergic transmission of the brain. To do this, use drugs such as pyrithinol, Encephabol, Scopolamine, Gliatilin, Pyracetam, etc.