amnesia
1 of 1nouna severe medical condition that leads to partial or complete loss of memory
Amnesia is a condition characterized by memory loss, where a person is unable to recall information or past experiences. This memory loss can be temporary or permanent and can affect short-term or long-term memory. Amnesia can be caused by various factors, including head injuries, brain infections, strokes, severe emotional stress, or chronic alcohol abuse. There are different types of amnesia, such as anterograde amnesia, which is the inability to form new memories, and retrograde amnesia, which is the loss of pre-existing memories. Treatment for amnesia focuses on addressing the underlying cause and may include cognitive therapy, medications, and supportive care to help improve memory function. Living with amnesia can be challenging, so support from healthcare professionals, family, and friends is very important.
- After the car accident she experienced temporary amnesia and could not remember the afternoon before the crash.
- The neurologist explained that his amnesia made it hard to learn new names, though long‑term memories remained intact.
- Cases of dissociative amnesia can follow extreme emotional trauma and sometimes resolve with psychotherapy.
- Heavy alcohol use led to an episode of blackout amnesia during which he remembered nothing of the evening.
- The patient's amnesia after the surgery prompted the team to review the anesthetic record for possible causes.