Suddenly forgot everything? Let's talk about this Transient Global Amnesia (TGA)

Imagine your mom, dad, or someone a little older at home suddenly asking you, "What day is it today?", "Where are we?". After you answer, they ask you the same questions again a few minutes later. But the amazing thing is, they know you and everyone else in the house very well. Doesn't anyone get scared when they see something like this? They think, "Oh my God, is this a brain disease? Is it a stroke?" But don't worry. Today we are talking about a very specific condition that many people don't know about, but which shows similar symptoms.

What is Transient Global Amnesia (TGA)?

Simply put, Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) is a condition in which there is sudden, temporary memory loss. The word "transient" here means "temporary." This means that it is not permanent. This memory loss begins suddenly and usually resolves on its own within a few hours.

When this TGA condition occurs, two main things happen:

1. Inability to form new memories: In medicine, we call this ``Anterograde Amnesia.'' That means that he does not remember the events and conversations that took place during this period. That is why he asks the same questions over and over again.

2. Forgetting recent events: This is called ``Retrograde Amnesia.`` That is, you lose memory of events that happened a few hours or a day or two before the event.

But the most important thing here is that the person with this condition does not forget who they are, who their family and friends are. Also, they can do everyday tasks, for example, driving a car, even complex tasks like gardening. The way they talk and behave socially does not change. But they experience great confusion about where they are, what time it is, and what day it is.

What are the symptoms of TGA?

It is very important to recognize this condition accurately. Because although these symptoms can be similar to those of a more serious illness, TGA has some unique characteristics. Let's break it down to understand it clearly.

In addition to these main symptoms, some people may also experience symptoms like:

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Anxiety and restlessness

The important thing is that these symptoms usually disappear completely within 1-10 hours (usually about 6 hours). Very rarely, they can last up to 24 hours. If the memory loss is gradually increasing or lasts more than a day, it may not be TGA, but another condition.

Who is most likely to develop this condition?

TGA is a very rare condition. However, it is most common in people between the ages of 50 and 80. 75% of patients are in this age group. It is very rare for someone under the age of 40 to develop TGA.

Additionally, some studies have found that people with the following medical conditions are at increased risk of developing TGA:

• Heart disease
• Migraine
• Increased blood cholesterol levels (Hyperlipidemia)

What causes TGA? What are the triggers?

As mentioned earlier, the exact cause of this is not yet known, but doctors believe it is caused by a temporary problem in the hippocampus, a key part of our brain related to memory and learning.

There are two main opinions:

1. Temporary reduction in blood supply to the brain (Ischemia): It's like a blood vessel being blocked for a while.

2. A process similar to a seizure in the brain: It's like a small fit, but there are no visible external signs.

It has also been observed that TGA can occur after certain events. We call these `Triggers`.

• Engaging in strenuous physical exercise or strenuous work.
• Severe stress or emotional shock (e.g., hearing bad news)
• Sudden exposure to extremely cold or hot water (e.g., taking a cold shower)
• Severe pain.
• Having sex.
• Performing the Valsalva maneuver: This is like holding your breath and squeezing hard.

Can drugs also cause TGA?

Yes. Some drugs and medications can also cause this kind of temporary memory loss.

• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Taking an overdose of certain sleeping pills (Barbiturates).
• Use of certain drugs.
• Taking small doses of certain medications for anxiety (Benzodiazepines).

Are TGA and stroke the same thing?

This is a common misconception and fear. TGA is not a stroke or a mini-stroke (TIA). The symptoms of both can be confusing because they come on suddenly. However, there are clear differences between the two.

In the event of a stroke, every second counts. Therefore, if you experience symptoms of a stroke, it is imperative to go to a hospital for treatment immediately.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose TGA?

There is no specific test for TGA. A doctor will rule out all other serious conditions that could cause similar symptoms. This is called a "diagnosis of exclusion."

To do this, your doctor will do the following:

• Conducting a complete physical examination and a neurological exam.
• A brain scan (CT or MRI) to rule out a condition such as a stroke, tumor, or bleeding.
• Blood tests (Comprehensive metabolic panel) (to check things like body salt and sugar levels).
• A drug test (Toxicology screen).

Only after all these tests confirm that there are no other problems will the doctor conclude that this is TGA.

What are the treatments for TGA?

The best news is that TGA does not require any treatment. The condition will completely resolve on its own within 24 hours. Your memory will return to normal.

Doctors usually recommend staying in the hospital during this period of memory loss to see if other symptoms develop and to ensure there is no underlying medical condition.

Are there any long-term effects of TGA?

TGA usually does not cause any long-term problems. Patients recover completely. However, they never remember anything that happened during the TGA episode. Those few hours seem to fade from their lives. However, other memories from before the event return within 24 hours.

Recurrence of TGA is also very rare. Less than 10% of people who experience TGA will have it again in their lifetime.

Also, TGA does not cause long-term memory loss, such as dementia . TGA is a temporary condition that comes and goes suddenly. Dementia is a disease that gradually worsens memory over time.