Anterograde Amnesia after Methamphetamine Lab Exposure

Abstract

Anterograde Amnesia after Methamphetamine Lab Exposure Background: Some known toxic exposures can produce detrimental cognitive deficits. Yet, very few substances have been linked to the development of anterograde amnesia. Here, we report a novel case of a middle-age man who presented with a profound and apparently permanent anterograde amnesia following his exposure to a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory. Case Report: A 47 year-old, righthanded man presented in 2013 with a history of memory loss and seizures since 2001, when he was exposed during his work as a firefighter to the fumes of spilled material intended to synthesize methamphetamine in a clandestine laboratory. Following the exposure, he suffered a major and immediate impairment of multiple cognitive domains, with anterograde memory being most impaired. A formal neurobehavioral status examination NBSE showed a profound impairment in episodic/verbal memory and lesser impairment of executive function. The patient clinical course has to date been stable without further deterioration or improvement. Discussion: This case highlights a clear temporal relationship of methamphetamine laboratory exposure and the development of deficits in memory and executive dysfunction suggestive of involvement of both prefrontalstriatal circuits and medial temporal areas. This is in concordance with prior animal studies, and warrants further investigation in the future.