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Introducing TGA -

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is an unusual medical condition in which a person experiences a sudden period of short-term memory loss.

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Numbers -

TGA is quite rare: in the general US population, for instance, it affects between five to 10 people in every 100,000. However, the number is higher in people aged over 50.

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Experiencing TGA -

During an episode of TGA, people are unable to create new memories, and their memory of recent events disappears.

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Not dangerous, but scary -

While TGA is not serious, it can be frightening, so it is worth knowing the signs. Let’s start by looking at the symptoms.

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Symptoms -

There are four symptoms that you must have to be diagnosed with TGA. The first is a sudden onset of confusion that includes memory loss. It must be seen by a witness.

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Alertness -

The second symptom is the ability to remain alert and know who you are, despite memory loss, which might cause you to forget where you are and how you got there.

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Normal cognition -

Next up is normal cognition. Despite memory loss, someone with TGA will be able to recognize and name familiar objects, as well as follow simple instructions.

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No signs of brain damage - A person experiencing a TGA episode will not show signs of damage to part of the brain, such as inability to move one or more limbs or problems understanding language.

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When to seek medical attention -

It is important to seek immediate medical attention for anyone who seems to go quickly from normal awareness of reality to confusion about what just happened.

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When to seek medical attention -

While TGA is not dangerous, it can be difficult to tell this condition apart from other, much more serious conditions that also cause memory loss.

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Causes - We do not know the underlying cause of TGA. Although doctors believe there may be a link with a history of migraines, they still don’t understand the risk factors that contribute to both.

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Vein blockages - There may also be a link between TGA and veins overfilling with blood (due to some sort of blockage in the vein, or another problem with the flow of blood).

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Triggers - There are also certain events and activities that have been reported as potential triggers for TGA. These include sudden immersion in hot or cold water, and strenuous physical activity.

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Triggers -

Also on the list of potential triggers are sexual intercourse, certain medical procedures such as angiography or endoscopy, mild head trauma, and being emotionally upset.

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Risk factors - In terms of risk factors, many studies show that high blood pressure and high cholesterol do not increase a person’s risk of developing TGA.

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Risk factors - This is interesting, since these risk factors do increase the likelihood of someone having a stroke, and stroke has some of the same symptoms as TGA.

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Age -

A person's sex does not seem to influence their risk profile either, although age certainly does. People aged 50 or over are at higher risk of TGA than younger people.

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History of migraines - The other clear risk factor is a history of migraines. Indeed, if you have a history of migraines, your risk of TGA is significantly higher than a person without one.

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Diagnosis -

When it comes to diagnosing TGA, there is no specific test. Instead, doctors will rule out all other possible causes of amnesia before diagnosing TGA.

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Diagnosis - In order to rule out other causes of your amnesia, your doctor will perform a physical exam and check your vitals. They might also perform a neurological exam.

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Treatment -

Bear in mind that even if you are diagnosed with TGA, there is no specific treatment. The episode will last a maximum of 24 hours, and then your memory function should return to normal.

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Memory gap -

As soon as your memory function returns to normal, you will be able to make new memories, but you will not remember anything that happened during the episode.

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Observation -

Your medical team will usually keep you in hospital until the episode of amnesia is over, just to be sure that there is no underlying medical cause and that you don’t develop other symptoms.

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Complications -

There are usually no long-term complications with TGA, and in most cases people recover completely. It is not a risk factor for stroke or epilepsy.

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Long-term problems -

In rare cases, however, TGA can result in longer-lasting memory problems. This problem only tends to occur in people who have repeated episodes.

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Repeated episodes -

Repeated episodes are very uncommon–less than 10% of people who experience TGA have a second episode.

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TGA vs. stroke -

You might have heard of people referring to TGA as a ‘mini stroke.’ However, it is important to note that these are two different conditions.

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TGA vs. stroke -

Sudden memory loss is generally the sole symptom of TGA, whereas a mini stroke has the same symptoms as a stroke, i.e. a severe headache and numbness or weakness, especially on one side.

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In case of stroke symptoms -

If someone presents with stroke symptoms, it is very important that they go to the emergency room immediately.

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In case of TGA symptoms -

In the case of TGA symptoms, it is also important to seek medical attention, since, although the condition is not serious, it can be tricky to diagnose.

Sources: (Mayo Clinic) (Cleveland Clinic)

See also: Modern-day royals and their medical conditions

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