TGA an uncommon disorder

February 22, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Could you please talk about transient global amnesia? I have never seen this discussed in your column before. Thank you.

DEAR READER: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a rare event that causes sudden, temporary loss of memory. It is often accompanied by repetitive questioning. It is not associated with the more common causes of amnesia such as stroke.

For a positive diagnosis, the patient must meet a set of criteria. He or she must retain knowledge of personal identity and have normal cognition (naming familiar objects, following simple instructions, etc.); the event must be verified by a witness; there cannot be a history of active epilepsy, a recent head injury or the presence of seizures during the episode; the event cannot last more than 24 hours; testing and examination will not reveal signs of brain damage; and, finally, the patient must experience a gradual return of memory.
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Sunday Column

September 14, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
After being told that his cholesterol was elevated, my 70-year-old husband was given a prescription for Lipitor. Before filling it, he researched the side effects first and then opted for red yeast rice instead. After nearly two months on the medication, he had a Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) episode. It lasted most of the day and he had no idea that he had asked the same question over and over. He also couldn’t recall what he had done the day before, what he planned to do later that day and when it was over he couldn’t remember what had happened but knew something was wrong. He saw his doctor who assured him that he did not have a mini-stroke and again prescribed Lipitor.

After doing another internet search, this time on TGA episodes, [Read more...]

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