A Transient What?

It's transient global amnesia, that's what.

A recent experience of an acquaintance was equal parts perplexity and fear. After a bit of strenuous exercise on a warm day, she lost all of her current memory.

Not too far from her home, she was able to return there without mishap, her husband sought help and she was taken to hospital ER for evaluation. Coincident with the conclusion of her hospital work-up, her memory returned and she has subsequently been as normal as any other healthy 65 year old.

Since 1956 this syndrome has been called "transient global amnesia", TGA for short, and it is most often a one time very benign condition with an excellent prognosis for full recovery. Most victims are in their late forties to their seventies and are typically active people. They haven't smoked and don't have high blood pressure or diabetes. In short, they have none of the risk factors for a small stroke, called a TIA - transient ischemic attack.

Thorough evaluation of TGA patients using every known scan has failed to reveal exactly why this amnesia happens. Here's a possible explanation according to some clinicians: Prior to losing his memory, a TGA patient-in-the-making is often straining to lift or pull something. During the strain period, the pressure of blood in his major chest veins increases a lot. When he subsequently quits straining, there is a sudden drop in the venous pressure in his chest, and this results in rapid drainage of blood from the center of his brain.

The area involved is responsible for current memory (where am I and why am I here?) and thus, TGA.

Life being what it is, TGA patients now are worked up completely to disprove the possibility of a transient or permanent stroke, which have, of course, more dire consequences.

If you were to have one of these things a thousand miles from the nearest medical facility, you would not have anything to fear. Simply sit or stand there among friends and let the symptoms go away. Then proceed fearlessly as you would normally.

The symptoms of a TIA may be less dramatic than those of a TGA, but if you are given a choice, you'd rather have a TGA. Trust me on this one.

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