brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Transient Global Amnesia
Diagnosis of Transient Global Amnesia
A doctor's evaluation Magnetic resonance imaging Doctors usually diagnose transient global amnesia based mainly on symptoms. They also do tests to check for other causes of sudden amnesia: A Complete blood count to check for other possible disorders of the amnesia Blood tests for alcohol and clotting disorders Urine tests for illicit drugs Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain Because a seizure in the temporal lobe can temporarily impair memory, doctors may do Electroencephalography (EEG) to check for abnormal electrical activity in the brain that suggests a seizure. When transient global amnesia first occurs, MRI does not show specific abnormalities. However, after a few days, MRI may show tiny dots in an area of the brain that is important in forming and retrieving memories (the Cerebrum ). The spots may represent small areas where blood flow is decreased, suggesting a possible cause of the amnesia. A more extensive evaluation may be done if the transient amnestic episodes recur. 