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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThe underlying cause of transient global amnesia is unknown. There appears to be a link between transient global amnesia and a history of migraines, though the underlying factors that contribute to both conditions aren't fully understood.
Some commonly reported events that may trigger transient global amnesia include:
- Sudden immersion in cold or hot water
- Strenuous physical activity
- Sexual intercourse
- Medical procedures, such as angiography or endoscopy
- Mild head trauma
- Acute emotional distress, as might be provoked by bad news, conflict or overwork
References
- Davis PH. Transient global amnesia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 7, 2011.
- Ropper AH, et al. Dementia and the amnesic (Korsakoff) syndrome with comments on the neurology of intelligence and memory. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3633470. Accessed May 9, 2011.
- Bartsch T. Transient global amnesia: Functional anatomy and clinical applications. The Lancet. 2010;9:205.
- Amnesias. The Merck Manuals: Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec16/ch210/ch210c.html. Accessed May 8, 2011.
- Kirshner HS. Approaches to intellectual and memory impairments. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier. 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1157892467&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50008-X&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&uniqId=243694923-5. Accessed May 11, 2011.
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