The anterograde amnesia it is a type of amnesia that causes loss of memory about new events. That is, the person with this condition is unable to learn new information. It is also often called short-term memory loss, although recent research indicates that this alteration also affects long-term memory.
The processes of attention and immediate memory are preserved in anterograde amnesia, however, the information is not stored correctly in the long term, so it is forgotten.
Anterograde amnesia is a disorder that can be caused by several causes. In fact, it is a symptom that can be seen in different pathologies. People who suffer from this disorder are unable to remember new aspects and have many learning difficulties.
Article index
Anterograde amnesia is a selective memory deficit that occurs as a consequence of brain damage in which the individual has significant difficulties in storing new information.
In contrast, anterograde amnesia does not affect the recall of past information. All the information stored prior to the appearance of the alteration are fully preserved and the person is able to remember it without problem.
In general, this alteration tends to affect the learning of new information completely. However, some people with this type of amnesia are able to learn new skills and habits..
Likewise, some cases of anterograde amnesia have been reported in which affected individuals have been able to learn new games or write in reverse..
It is shown that anterograde amnesia mainly affects the storage of facts and events, while the learning of skills seems to be more preserved.
Determining which brain regions are involved in the development of anterograde amnesia is one of the main challenges in science today.
It is argued that the brain damage that causes anterograde amnesia is located in the hippocampus and the areas of the medial temporal lobe.
These brain regions act as a passageway where events are temporarily stored until they become more permanently stored in the frontal lobe..
The hippocampus is interpreted as a short-term memory store. If this region does not allow the information to be stored correctly, it will be impossible for it to pass to the frontal lobe, so memories cannot be established..
However, despite the fact that the hippocampus seems to be the most important region of anterograde amnesia, recent studies have postulated the participation of other brain structures.
Specifically, it is theorized that damage to the basal forebrain could also cause this condition. These regions are responsible for producing acetylcholine, a main memory substance, since it initiates and modulates memorization processes..
The most common form of anterior basal brain damage is aneurysms, a condition that has been positively associated with anterograde amnesia..
Finally, the relationship between memory disorders and Korsakoff syndrome has suggested that a third region could also be involved in the development of anterograde amnesia..
This last structure is the diencephalon, a region that is highly damaged with Korsakoff syndrome. The high association between anterograde amnesia and korsakoff syndrome means that the participation of the diencephalon in mnesic processes is currently being studied.
Anterograde amnesia is a disorder that can appear in a wide variety of diseases.
In some cases, the amnesia experienced is temporary and the person can successfully recover their memory. However, in other diseases memory loss can be progressive and chronic.
The main pathologies that can cause anterograde amnesia are:
Benzodiazepines are anxiolytic drugs that include memory failures among their side effects. The main medications that can cause anterograde amnesia are lorezepam,, triazolam, clonazepm, and diazepam..
In these cases, it is convenient to withdraw the medication. Normally, memory functions usually recover after drug withdrawal and anterograde amnesia disappears..
Head injury is one of the main causes of antegrade amnesia. The damage caused by the impact in the brain regions that modulate memory processes can cause chronic anterograde amnesia, although sometimes the ability to memorize can be restored.
Encephalopathy is a disease that causes a loss of brain function when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. The disturbance can occur suddenly or progressively, and usually results in anterograde amnesia..
Anterograde amnesia can also be caused by alcohol intoxication. This phenomenon is popularly known as “blackout” and causes memory loss for a certain period of time..
Dementia syndromes are characterized by the generation of neurodegeneration of the brain. One of its first symptoms is usually the progressive and chronic loss of learning capacity (anterograde amnesia) although later it causes many more cognitive deficits.
Delirium is a disorder of consciousness that can be caused by different factors. Due to the alteration suffered by attention and consciousness, memory is highly damaged in this pathology. Normally, anterograde amnesia disappears once the disease is over.
Korsakof syndrome is a very common pathology caused by thiamine deficiency in subjects with chronic alcoholism. In these cases, recent memory is more altered than remote memory.
Finally, the aging of the brain causes it to deteriorate and lose functionality. In these cases, there is no mention of pathology, but difficulties may also appear to learn and remember new information.
Yet No Comments