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Retrograde amnesia is sometimes temporary but can also be permanent or progressive. The severity and duration of this type of amnesia depend on what is causing it.

Retrograde amnesia can also be contrasted withanterograde amnesia.Anterograde amnesiais a type of memory loss that makes it impossible to form new memories. People with this form of amnesia have difficulty forming new memories following the onset of their memory loss. It is also possible for a person to have both retrograde and anterograde amnesia.

Symptoms of Retrograde Amnesia

The symptoms of retrograde amnesia can vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury. Common signs that a person may experience include:

Some people only lose their memories of events that happened before they began to experience amnesia, which means they can form new memories. In other cases, people will have both retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia, which means they will also be unable to create new memories.

What Are Examples of Retrograde Amnesia?

There are a few different types of retrograde amnesia that a person may experience.

Focal Retrograde Amnesia

Focal retrograde amnesia is a type in which the individual does not experience symptoms of anterograde amnesia. People can form new memories and acquire new skills. This kind is also sometimes known as pure or isolated retrograde amnesia.

Temporally-Graded Retrograde Amnesia

Temporally graded retrograde amnesia is the most common form of retrograde amnesia. It strongly affects recent memories, while older memories may be minimally affected, while events closest to the onset of amnesia are heavily affected.

The extent of the lost memory depends on the source and severity of the amnesia. Sometimes people will be less severely affected and may be able to remember events that occurred a few years before their injury. In other cases, people may lose nearly all of their adult memories.

While this memory loss can be severe, people are generally able to retain memories from childhood and adolescence.

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesiais a form of retrograde amnesia that may occur following some type of psychological trauma. The memory loss is due to emotional shock and is often temporary.

This form of retrograde amnesia impacts a person’s self-perception andself-awareness. Due to the severity of the stress or trauma a person faces, they dissociate from themselves and their own lives as a way to cope.

Post-Traumatic Amnesia

This type of retrograde amnesia can occur following atraumatic brain injurysuch as stroke or head trauma. People with this type of amnesia do not remember the injury or event that led to the amnesia. They may also have issues recalling their identity or orienting themselves in time and place.

Transient Global Amnesia

This form of retrograde amnesia occurs suddenly and prevents people from forming new memories while they are experiencing amnesia. People with this condition can recall who they are and recognize family members, but they may struggle to understand what they are doing or where they are.

TGA is temporary and relatively brief, often lasting from less than an hour to 10 hours. Symptoms of retrograde amnesia typically resolve within 24 hours.

RecapDifferent types of retrograde amnesia include focal retrograde amnesia, temporally graded retrograde amnesia, dissociative amnesia, post-traumatic amnesia, and transient global amnesia.

Recap

Different types of retrograde amnesia include focal retrograde amnesia, temporally graded retrograde amnesia, dissociative amnesia, post-traumatic amnesia, and transient global amnesia.

What Is Retrograde Amnesia Caused By?

Diagnosing Retrograde Amnesia

If you are experiencing symptoms of retrograde amnesia, it is important to talk to your doctor. They will evaluate your condition and ask questions to learn more about your memory loss. Their assessment may include:

Your doctor will also perform a physical exam and a neurological assessment to check your general physical health and learn more about the nature, extent, and severity of your memory issues.

An accurate diagnosis is essential in order to ensure that you get the right treatment and support that you need to deal with your memory loss.

Treatment for Retrograde Amnesia

There is no specific treatment for retrograde amnesia. It is important to first understand what is causing this type of memory loss and then treat the underlying cause.

In other cases, the damage and memory loss may be permanent. While no treatment can cure degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, some medications may help slow the progression of the disease.

Coping With Retrograde Amnesia

If you are experiencing retrograde amnesia, some strategies can help you cope with the symptoms and minimize their impact on your daily life. This type of memory loss can be challenging, particularly when it makes it difficult for people to understand precisely what has happened and what they have experienced.

You may also find it helpful to utilize technology tools to deal with the effects of retrograde amnesia.While you may have no memory of events that occurred before your amnesia began, you can use tools on your phone or tablet to keep track of important information that you need. Consider keeping notes, reminders, photographs, and other handy cues on your device to find names, dates, places, and other essential details.

Summary

A Word From Verywell

Experiencing retrograde amnesia can be confusing and distressing. Because the causes can vary, it is important to determine what is causing the problem so that you can get the appropriate help. While your memory loss may not be reversible, there may be strategies that can help you cope.

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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