AMNESIA

The term ‘amnesia’ refers to memory loss. Amnesia usually results from brain injury or illness. It is generally temporary, but it can be permanent. Here we will look at two common types of amnesia before discussing memory preservation and recovery.

Though amnesia can have many forms, there are two main types. In the first, a person loses memories of events that happened prior to an accident or trauma. People with this type of amnesia do not remember things from their past. They may not recognise their family members or even remember their own names.

The other type of amnesia is just the opposite: a person loses memories of events that happen following an accident. People with this kind of amnesia have difficulty making new memories. They may repeatedly ask the same questions because they cannot remember the answers, or they may eat breakfast more than once because they cannot remember that they already ate.

Usually, memories of habits are better kept than memories of facts. So, for example, a person might be able to play the piano beautifully without remembering ever having taken a lesson. Facts most likely to be remembered are those that happened long ago. As such, memories from childhood are more likely to remain. Older memories also come back first as the brain heals.

Some patients suffering from amnesia must relearn things. This can include learning to walk or even talk again. The brain might be able to repair itself, but it takes time and often requires hard work. It is not easy for patients or their family members.

The study of amnesia teaches us a lot about our brains. Researchers have learned that brains can heal themselves over time and that memories can come back. Hopefully, they will continue to learn and, in doing so, will find ways to make recovery easier for patients and their families.