Autobiographical amnesia and accelerated forgetting in transient epileptic amnesia. Issue 10 (16th September 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manes, F; Graham, K S; Zeman, A; de Luján Calcagno, M; Hodges, J R
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 76:Issue 10(2005)
• Page Start: 1387
• Page End: 1391
• Publication Date: 2005-09-16
• Subjects: TEA, transient epileptic amnesia; Amnesia -- epilepsy -- transient epileptic amnesia; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.036582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Recurrent brief isolated episodes of amnesia associated with epileptiform discharges on EEG recordings have been interpreted as a distinct entity termed transient epileptic amnesia (TEA). Patients with TEA often complain of autobiographical amnesia for recent and remote events, but show normal anterograde memory. Objective: To investigate ( a ) accelerated long term forgetting and ( b ) autobiographical memory in a group of patients with TEA. Methods: Seven patients with TEA and seven age matched controls were evaluated on a range of anterograde memory tasks in two sessions separated by 6 weeks and by the Galton-Crovitz test of cued autobiographical memory. Results: Patients with TEA showed abnormal long term forgetting of verbal material, with virtually no recall after 6 weeks. In addition, there was impaired recall of autobiographical memories from the time periods 1985–89 and 1990–94 but not from 1995–1999. Conclusions: TEA is associated with accelerated loss of new information and impaired remote autobiographical memory. There are a number of possible explanations including ongoing subclinical ictal activity, medial temporal lobe damage as a result of seizure, or subtle ischaemic pathology. Future analyses should seek to clarify the relationship between aetiology, seizure frequency, and degree of memory impairment.