brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Transient Global Amnesia
Introduction
Transient global amnesia is a sudden, temporary loss of memory for events before, during, and after the event that caused the amnesia. What causes transient global amnesia is not known, but a similar, temporary loss of memory can result from drinking too much alcohol or taking certain drugs. People with transient global amnesia suddenly but temporarily become unable to store new memories or to recall events that occurred during the episode. Doctors diagnose this amnesia based mainly on symptoms and certain magnetic resonance imaging findings. Transient global amnesia has no lasting effects and requires no treatment unless a cause of the amnesia is identified. Transient global amnesia usually occurs in people aged 50 to 70. It rarely occurs in people under 50. It occurs in slightly more men than women. 