Amnesia

July 23, 2026 | Memory loss is not just a dramatic plot device. Veteran television journalist Katie Couric recently revealed that she had had a bout of transient global amnesia, a rare but temporary condition that suddenly robs people of nearly all memories even while they maintain self-awareness. The condition affects 3.4 to 10.4 people per 100,000 per year, according to the National Institutes of Health. Amnesia, also called amnestic syndrome, refers to the loss of memories, including facts and experiences. Movies and television tend to show people with amnesia forgetting who they are. But that’s not generally the case in real life. Instead, people with amnesia typically know who they are. But they may have trouble learning new information and forming new memories. Amnesia can be caused by damage to areas of the brain that are vital for memory processing. Unlike transient global amnesia, amnesia can be permanent.

July 23, 2026 | People with the condition amnesia may have trouble learning new information or trouble remembering past events and information that used to be familiar. Most people with amnesia have issues with short-term memory, so they can’t remember new information. Recent memories are most likely to be lost. But people with amnesia may remember older or deeply ingrained memories. People with amnesia may recall experiences from childhood or know the names of past presidents. But they may not be able to name the current president, know the month or remember what they ate for breakfast. Memory loss alone doesn’t affect a person’s intelligence, general knowledge, awareness or attention span. It also doesn’t affect judgment, personality or identity. People with amnesia typically can understand written and spoken words. And they may understand that they have a condition that affects memory.

July 23, 2026 | Amnesia isn’t the same as dementia. Dementia often involves memory loss. But dementia also involves other changes in thinking that lead to a decline in daily functioning. These changes include having trouble with language, judgment, and visual and spatial skills. Memory loss also is a common symptom of mild cognitive impairment. This condition involves memory loss and other cognitive issues that aren’t as serious as those experienced in dementia. Depending on the cause of the amnesia, a person may have false memories that are either completely invented or are real memories misplaced in time. How much amnesia affects memory is different from person to person. But even mild amnesia takes a toll on daily activities and quality of life. Amnesia can make it hard to function at work, at school and in social settings. Some people with serious memory loss need to be supervised or need to live in a care facility.

July 23, 2026 | Typical memory function involves many parts of the brain. Any disease or injury that affects the brain can affect memory. Amnesia can result from damage to brain structures that form the limbic system, which controls emotions and memories. Those brain structures include the thalamus found deep within the center of the brain. They also include the hippocampal formations found within the temporal lobes of the brain. Amnesia caused by brain injury or damage is known as neurological amnesia. This form of amnesia can be caused by a stroke, tumors in the areas of the brain that control memory or seizures. A rare type of amnesia, called dissociative amnesia, comes from emotional shock or trauma. It can result from being the victim of a violent crime or experiencing other trauma. In dissociative amnesia, people may lose personal memories and information about their lives. This type of amnesia typically doesn’t last long.

July 23, 2026 | Transient global amnesia is an episode of confusion that comes on suddenly in a person who is otherwise alert. This confused state isn’t caused by a more common neurological condition, such as epilepsy or stroke. During an episode of transient global amnesia, a person is unable to create new memories, so the memory of recent events disappears. You may not remember anything about what’s happening right now. You may keep repeating the same questions because you don’t remember the answers you’ve just been given. The condition most often affects people in middle or older age. With transient global amnesia, you do remember who you are, and you recognize the people you know well. Episodes of transient global amnesia always get better slowly over a few hours. During recovery, you may begin to remember events and circumstances. Transient global amnesia isn’t serious, but it can still be very frightening.