Sex Causing Amnesia? Information About Transient Global Amnesia

Robert was out in his garden working, as he did most mornings, pulling weeds and watering. Later, after he had come into the house, his wife found him sitting at the kitchen table. He recognized her, but had no recollection of what he had done that morning. He seemed confused. She immediately put him in the car and drove him to the emergency room, and as she drove, he repeated asked her where they were going.

What happened to Robert was not a stroke. He was questioned about any accident or other trauma he may have experienced, but there was none. His MRI and CAT scan both were normal, as was his exam. He was diagnosed as having Transient Global Amnesia, or as it is more commonly known, TGA.

Transient Global Amnesia has been a well-described phenomenon for more than forty years. The incidence in the United States, based on a study conducted in Rochester, Minnesota, is 5.2 cases for every 100,000 people. However, over the age of fifty, the incidence of occurrence was 23.5 per 100,000.

Transient Global Amnesia usually occurs suddenly without the trauma of normal amnesia. Victims have no recollection of recent memories and lose the ability to form new memories. They may be anxious or agitated. They are disoriented as to time or place. They will know their family members, but will not remember activities they may have participated in earlier that day. They have a hard time forming new memories, and this is one reason why they continue to seem disoriented and ask the same questions repeatedly. Sixty to ninety percent of victims exhibit repetitive questioning, such as "Where am I?" This will last for the duration of the attack.

As the name implies, Transient Global Amnesia, or TGA, is transient. In other words, it usually goes away on it's own without treatment. The average affected time is one to eight hours, but it can last up to a full day. The average time is 4.2 hours. When it resolves, the victim will feel fine, but will have no memory of the time when the amnesia was present. It is not linked to dementia or Alzheimer's.

It can strike without warning.

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