Global Transient AmnesiaGlobal Transient Amnesia is a phenomenon that has been growing in popularity over the past 40 years. People who have been diagnosed with global transient amnesia suffer from a loss of memory of recent events and cannot retain new information. In some cases the memory loss is mild, while in others, the person suffering from global transient amnesia may not be able to remember events that have transpired.The symptoms of global transient amnesia usually last less than 24 hours and include anxiousness, inability to recall events, inability to remember personal identity and are not able to retain new information. Global transient amnesia is popping up mostly in men in their mid-fifties and up. Although the symptoms may only last up to 24 hours, the victim of global transient amnesia may not be able to remember the events that transpired while they were experiencing the attack. Once regaining the memory, some people can recall the feeling of not being able to remember as well as the episode itself. There are many different experiences, and each person’s memory is different. There is no agreed upon cause for global transient amnesia. Many believe that it is brought on by stress or situations of heightened awareness such as sexual intercourse, immersion in extremely cold water or good old strenuous physical exertion in general. Others disagree and refer to a bout of global transient amnesia as a side effect to a mini-stroke. Other attacks can be brought about by migraines caused by abnormal constriction and dilation of vessel walls in the brain. The good thing is that global transient amnesia is fleeting. Since it does only have a span of anywhere from one to twenty-four hours, the symptoms will pass. Even though there may be a span of time in the victims’ life that can be foggy, the diagnosis is not permanent and usually does not require any intense treatment. If you do think that someone around you, or you yourself is suffering from global transient amnesia, you may want to consult with a doctor. Let them know what the symptoms are and keep an eye on that person’s behavior. Also, people suffering from global transient amnesia will sometimes feel the need to take a little trip, so watch them closely and don’t let them go out and wander the streets not knowing where they are or who they are. |