Keeping these pointers in mind, psychological support and counseling of patients, as well as relatives, is as important as diagnosing it. Therefore, transient global amnesia can be a fairly frightening experience for any person. It also influences a person’s learning process. Memory plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s personality and identity.Treatment can, however, be directed towards controlling or eliminating the causative factors.As evident from the name, TGA is a self-limiting condition and the patient experiences spontaneous improvement usually within 24 hours of its onset without any medical intervention. There are no specific evidence-based medicines in allopathy for treatment of transient global amnesia.Studies have also found that patients with TGA are at an increased risk for strokes and seizures.Studies have found that patients with transient global amnesia are at an increased risk for coronary artery diseases and myocardial infarction as compared to the general population.A proportion of patients with recurrent attacks of transient global amnesia have reported impaired visuoperceptual functions, which means that although patients can see the surroundings well, yet they are unable to understand them.Some patients even report mild cognitive impairment after attacks of amnesia, which means that they have difficulty in learning new things, concentrating on work or taking decisions of day-to-day activities.Some cases have reported persistence of memory dysfunction even after the condition has resolved.Rare instances of complete and permanent loss of memory have been reported in patients having recurrent attacks of transient global amnesia.Patients may have difficulty in recalling events that occurred in the past few hours, days or months before the attack of amnesia. There may be partial loss of long-term memory.About one-fourth of patients who encounter a transient global ischemia develop the risk of having recurrent attacks. Most patients do not experience recurrence.Since there is a temporary loss of memory, the patient cannot recollect events that happened during the episode of amnesia.Transient global amnesia is a benign condition which usually resolves by itself within 24 hours from onset of amnesia without the need for any medical assistance or intervention.Patients with recent head injury or active epilepsy are not to be included.Resolution of attack must occur within 24 hours.There should be the absence of epileptic features.No accompanying focal neurological symptoms are to be present during and after the attack.Cognitive impairment is limited to amnesia without loss of consciousness or alertness.Anterograde amnesia must be present during the attack. ![]() The attack must be witnessed by a capable observer who was present throughout the attack.The following points are considered in the diagnostic criteria Hodge and Warlow in 1990 formed diagnostic criteria to diagnose TGA. It can be tested by the doctor at the bedside by asking the patient about his/ her activities before the onset of amnesia. A Computed Tomography (CT scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or An Electroencephalogram (EEG) may be advised by the treating doctor to diagnose possible underlying conditions which may be responsible for attacks of transient global ischemia. There are no specific tests or scans to confirm the diagnosis. Transient global amnesia is a clinical diagnosis. Chest pain, tingling and numbness of extremities, the coldness of extremities and sweating have also been reported during attacks.Symptoms such as a headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness are seen in nearly 10% of cases of transient global amnesia.There is a temporary inability to form new memories.There is disorientation in relation to time, place and person. ![]() The patient may seem confused and asks about recent events repeatedly.Individuals with transient global amnesia are alert and communicative and there is a complete absence of neurological signs and symptoms. ![]()
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