Amnesia Detection - Diagnosing Memory Loss

Understanding Amnesia: A Comprehensive Detection Guide

Amnesia detection involves identifying and diagnosing memory loss through clinical evaluations, cognitive tests, and brain imaging. Understanding amnesia disease causes is essential for accurate diagnosis. Early detection enables timely treatment, helping patients manage symptoms, regain memory function, and improve overall quality of life.

Introduction

Amnesia disease can become serious if it is left untreated for a long period. Additionally, seeking medical help in the early diagnosis of it to prevent persistent complications. While the exact causes of this disease are still under investigation, it is often linked to brain injuries, trauma, or neurological disorders.

What is Amnesia Disease?

Amnesia is a severe or prolonged memory loss, especially in older people. It may have a gradual or sudden onset, as in cases like dementia. Amnesia patients are usually lucid and have a sense of self. In certain cases, they can remember everything up to a certain point but face difficulties remembering anything after that point.

People suffering from amnesia face difficulties in imagining the future due to the improper functioning of the brain. This happens as the human brain is responsible for constructing future scenarios based on recollection of experiences.

What are the Different Types of Amnesia?

In general, there are two types of amnesia, which we will discuss here in detail:

1. Retrograde Amnesia

People suffering from this amnesia disease cannot recall memories from past incidents. They can form new memories, as the brain can retain new information. Psychiatric illness, brain disorders, or head injuries can cause retrograde amnesia.    

2. Anterograde Amnesia

In this case, patients can recall older memories or incidents but cannot retain new information. Sometimes, in extreme cases, patients may permanently lose the ability to learn additional or new information. Anterograde amnesia affects the future memories of an individual and is often temporary.

3. Post-traumatic Amnesia

If there is any sudden brain injury or trauma, the patients may develop post-traumatic amnesia. Post-traumatic amnesitic disorder symptoms include disorientation, confusion, agitation, disinhibited behaviour and restlessness.    

4. Infantile Amnesia

It is also known as childhood amnesia, where an individual cannot recall specific memories from their initial childhood days, typically before the age of 2 or 3. Healthcare providers consider this as a normal functioning of the brain and not a memory disorder.  

5. Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia happens due to mental health-related issues like traumatic incidents, psychological distress or abuse. According to neurological experts, it is an inbuilt defence mechanism of the brain to protect an individual from these previous experiences.

What are the Tests to Diagnose Amnesia?

Diagnosis of amnesia disease is crucial to start the treatment as soon as possible.

Here, we will discuss the diagnostic test to detect amnesia:

1. Neurological Examination

It evaluates the nervous system and the functioning of the brain in case of amnestic disorders. It consists of a series of tests to assess movements, reflexes, mental status, and other related issues.  

2. Neuropsychological Assessment

This diagnostic test measures the overall functioning and performance of the human brain. It measures types of mental functions like language use, reading, learning processes, remembering, and reading abilities. Patients with amnesia may show dissimilarities in these mental functions, making it possible to detect the symptoms of amnesia disease in the early stages.

3. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

CT or computerised tomography is done to detect any kind of underlying diseases or injuries in the brain. It is done through a series of X-rays to create detailed 3D images of soft tissues and bones. A CT scan is usually non-invasive and painless. Therefore, anyone can visit the hospital for a full CT scan if they suspect any kind of memory loss.   

4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan

An MRI scan is done to create clear 3-dimensional images of the body structures through radio waves and large magnets. The computer detects the radio waves that pass through the entire body and creates these detailed images. It does not use X-ray radiation to create the images. Thus, it is an excellent choice for routine treatment or diagnostic monitoring.   

5. Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Healthcare providers conduct an electroencephalogram to check the brain's activity. It detects any kind of abnormal electrical activity due to neurological disorders. Small metal disks or electrodes are attached to the head surface that monitor the brain cells' electrical signals to communicate with each other.    

6. Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture) 

In this diagnostic test, the healthcare expert inserts a needle in a patient's lower back to extract a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. They check the pressure or presence of any microbes in the spinal fluid and how it affects the brain in case of any neurological disorder.

What are the Common Amnesia Treatments?

There is no direct medication or treatment available to cure amnesia permanently. As researchers are unable to detect the exact cause of amnesia disease, doctors mainly focus on managing memory loss or injuries that affect the daily lives of patients.

1. Amnesia due to Brain Disorders or Head Injuries

If amnesia is caused by conditions like head injury, stroke, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, treating these conditions can restore memory loss. Conversely, in the case of drug or alcohol overuse, detoxification can resolve the issue.

2. Psychological Support for Normal Amnesia

Experts may sometimes suggest psychological support, like cognitive behavioural therapy and other psychotherapies, to restore memory loss. Advanced medications and clinical hypnosis can be applied to treat additional causes of amnesia disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, or depression.     

What are the Preventive Measures for Amnesia Disease?

Amnesia is an unpredictable disorder that can come at any point in time, especially in the later stages of life. However, some causes that are responsible for developing amnesia are preventable.

Individuals can take some of these steps to reduce the risk of amnesia:

• Maintaining a balanced diet.
• Managing stress and maintaining a healthy sleep cycle.
• Monitoring and treating any eye or ear infection susceptible to spreading to the brain.
• Maintaining a balanced and healthy weight.
• Do not ignore any mental health conditions that can affect the brain.
• Staying mentally active with puzzles and books.
• Keeping the brain active through proper social relationships.
• Quit using tobacco products.

The Bottom Line

If anyone is suffering from amnesia, they will not be able to know it immediately. Patients may experience difficulties remembering past events at the later stages of life and sometimes early on.

The symptoms depend on the cause of this amnesia disease. It will be best to consult a healthcare provider to get proper guidance on what to do and how to treat this disorder.