It usually happens in people who are middle-aged or elderly (most commonly after the age of 60).
Sometimes transient global amnesia may be triggered by emotional events.
Postural changes, high altitude, strenuous exercise or bearing down may also precipitate an episode.
BSIP/UIG/Getty Images
It is possible that the syndrome results from more than one cause.
There is no clear relationship between stroke risk factors and TGA.
Some studies suggest thatmigrainesare associated with TGA.
Migraines can cause theMRIchanges seen in TGA cases, and the time-course for migraine attacks and TGA is similar.
The differential diagnosis includes seizures arising from the mesial temporal lobe.
Unlike TGA, patients with psychogenic amnesia forget their name or other pieces of autobiographical information.
It is normal to be concerned about the possibility of a recurrence of symptoms.
Such a recurrence is uncommon, but not impossible, and should prompt further evaluation for other possible explanations.
Spiegel DR, Smith J, Wade RR, et al.Transient global amnesia: current perspectives.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.
2014;21(5):718724. doi:10.1111/ene.12346
Nehring SM, Kumar A.Transient global amnesia.
StatPearls[Internet].
Borroni B, Agosti C, Brambilla C, et al.
Is transient global amnesia a risk factor for amnestic mild cognitive impairment?
Enzinger C, Thimary F, Kapeller P, et al.
Transient global amnesia: diffusion-weighted imaging lesions and cerebrovascular disease.
Koski KJ, Marttila RJ.
Transient global amnesia: incidence in an urban population.
Lauria G, Gentile M, Fassetta G, et al.
Incidence of transient global amnesia in the Belluno province, Italy.
Results of a community-based study.
Lee HY, Kim JH, Weon YC, et al.
Diffusion-weighted imaging in transient global amnesia exposes the CA1 region of the hippocampus.
Melo TP, Ferro JM, Ferro H. Transient global amnesia.
A case control study.
Miller JW, Petersen RC, Metter EJ, et al.
Transient global amnesia: clinical characteristics and prognosis.
Schmidtke K, Ehmsen L. Transient global amnesia and migraine.
A case control study.
