OVERVIEW

What is amnesia?

Amnesia mainly refers to temporary memory dysfunction, primarily caused by a transient impairment in the brain's ability to retrieve information. Most cases can be recalled with prompting.

Is amnesia common?

Yes. As people age, normal physiological decline in older adults can lead to forgetfulness. Additionally, due to modern lifestyle pressures and changes, an increasing number of young people are also experiencing symptoms of forgetfulness.

SYMPTOMS

What are the common symptoms of amnesia?

Amnesia primarily manifests as "poor memory," making it easy to forget past events, things previously said, the location of objects, or passwords, among other things. The severity can range from mild to severe, but most cases can be recalled with reminders.

Can amnesia develop into dementia?

Amnesia and dementia are entirely different conditions.

• Dementia involves a decline in overall brain function, where memory impairment manifests as a comprehensive decline in storage, retrieval, and other functions. It is often accompanied by reduced visuospatial abilities (such as forgetting the way home) and typically cannot be recalled even with reminders. Moreover, dementia patients also experience a general decline in executive function, calculation skills, thinking ability, and learning capacity (e.g., inability to cook, use household appliances, frequent calculation errors, or failure to learn a new song). Daily behavior and life are significantly affected.

• In contrast, amnesia is only a temporary dysfunction in memory retrieval, while memory storage remains intact. Therefore, most cases can be recalled with reminders or recover naturally. It does not cause other functional impairments or affect daily living abilities.

CAUSES

What factors are associated with amnesia?

Amnesia is related to many factors:

• Physiological degeneration: Decline in brain function in the elderly may lead to normal age-related forgetfulness, but it needs to be distinguished from dementia.

• Organic amnesia: Damage to brain tissue caused by brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, etc., can lead to memory impairment. Systemic diseases such as endocrine dysfunction, anemia, and malnutrition may also cause forgetfulness.

• Functional amnesia: This is mainly caused by long-term sleep disorders, anxiety or depression, mental stress, and poor lifestyle habits, which lead to difficulty concentrating and memory decline. Additionally, excessive use of electronic devices may also impair brain function and contribute to memory loss.

Who is more prone to amnesia?

• Elderly individuals, especially those who rarely engage in mental activities, are more likely to experience noticeable cognitive decline.

• People who have suffered from severe brain diseases or other systemic illnesses.

• Those with irregular lifestyles (e.g., chronic sleep deprivation), long-term sleep disorders, depression or anxiety, or prolonged mental stress are more susceptible to forgetfulness.

DIAGNOSIS

What tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis of amnesia?

Imaging tests such as head CT/MRI, cognitive function scales, mood scales, blood tests including complete blood count, thyroid function, liver and kidney function, and other hematological tests.

Why are these tests necessary for amnesia? What is their purpose?

The main purpose of these tests is to rule out serious underlying causes and differentiate amnesia from dementia:

• Imaging tests such as head CT/MRI: Can roughly determine whether there are severe brain tissue abnormalities.

• Cognitive function scales: Assess the severity of memory decline and whether there are impairments in other cognitive domains (such as calculation, logical thinking, orientation, etc.), helping to differentiate from dementia.

• Mood scales: Evaluate whether there is anxiety or depression when necessary.

• Blood tests including complete blood count, thyroid function, liver and kidney function: Assess for systemic conditions such as anemia, hypothyroidism, or malnutrition.

What should be noted when using cognitive function scales and mood scales in the assessment of amnesia?

Scale assessments are questionnaire-based and require a quiet environment. Patients should answer truthfully based on their own conditions.

Which conditions are easily confused with amnesia?

Amnesia primarily needs to be differentiated from dementia, especially in elderly individuals. Mistaking normal age-related forgetfulness for dementia may lead to unnecessary medication and significant psychological and financial burdens for the elderly.

TREATMENT

Which department should I visit for amnesia?

You can first go to the neurology department. If there is an underlying cause, you will be referred to the relevant department.

Does amnesia require hospitalization?

If there is no serious underlying cause, hospitalization is generally not necessary.

How is amnesia treated?

• For those with underlying causes (such as brain diseases or systemic diseases), treatment focuses on addressing the root cause;

• For those without underlying causes, lifestyle improvements are key: maintain a regular and healthy lifestyle, quit smoking and alcohol, avoid staying up late, ensure good sleep quality, stay in a positive mood, increase outdoor activities, maintain a balanced diet, and consume more vegetables and fruits.

• Most cases of functional amnesia do not require cognitive-enhancing medication.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

What should amnesia patients pay attention to in daily life?

Lifestyle is very important for patients with functional amnesia.

• First, maintain a healthy lifestyle. In terms of diet, eat more fruits and vegetables; balance meat and vegetables. If vegetarian, consume more soy products to supplement protein. If possible, drink 300 mL of milk daily to avoid calcium deficiency. Avoid relying solely on refined rice and flour for staple foods—replace some with legumes, potatoes, or pumpkin. Use less salt and high-sodium seasonings when cooking. Limit intake of pickled vegetables and meats, and avoid alcohol as much as possible.

• Beyond diet, engage in about 30 minutes of daily exercise, combining aerobic and strength training at a moderate intensity. Ensure sufficient sleep each day, and learn self-regulation when facing high stress or emotional tension.

• Avoid prolonged use of electronic devices and excessive mental stress in work or daily life.

PREVENTION

Can Amnesia Be Prevented?

Most functional amnesia can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and emotional well-being, avoiding prolonged use of electronic devices, exercising the brain regularly, and learning new things.