What is amnesia?
Amnesia is a disease characterized by memory loss. This memory disorder can originate from different causes. When a person suffers from this disorder, he/she can neither store nor retrieve previously received information.
Amnesia can be temporary (transient amnesia) or permanent. Depending on the symptoms, it can be of two types: anterograde, if it causes difficulty in memorizing new data; or retrograde, characterized by the forgetting of memories. On the other hand, paramnesias consist of errors in the recognition of memories, such as reminiscence, the so-called “deja vu” or cryptomnesia, among others.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of amnesia is the loss of access to memory. When the memory loss is more severe and extensive, it can lead to a deterioration in the person’s interpersonal and work relationships, antisocial behavior with which he/she tries to relieve the social pressure he/she feels when he/she is unable to relate to society.
Causes of amnesia or why it occurs
The causes can be organ-related, amnesia produced because there is a lesion in the cerebral area, caused by diseases, trauma or by the abuse of certain drugs; or functional reasons, that is to say, by psychological factors, as a defense mechanism.
Can it be prevented?
Amnesia can be prevented in some cases by exercising the brain and making it work. For this it is important to keep the mind busy, interact with other people, sleep eight hours a day, avoid stressful situations and lead a healthy life, without excess food or alcohol and doing moderate physical exercise.
What does the treatment consist of?
In most cases, amnesia resolves without treatment. However, if an underlying physical or mental disorder is present, it should be treated if possible.
Psychotherapy may be effective in some patients and hypnosis is a way to recall certain episodes that have been forgotten. Family support is very important in helping the patient get better.
Working with an occupational therapist helps to acquire new information to replace lost memories or to acquire new information as well.