Is transient global amnesia a risk factor for amnestic mild cognitive impairment?

Abstract

Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) is a common condition of unknown aetiology characterised by the abrupt onset of severe anterograde amnesia, which lasts less than 24 hours. Some authors have suggested that subclinical impairment of memory functions may persist for much longer, but neuropsychological assessment lasting years after TGA attack has not been performed so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate longterm cognitive functions in patients with a previous TGA episode. Fifty-five patients underwent a standardised neuropsychological assessment after at least one-year from the TGA attack, and were compared with 80 age-matched controls. TGA patients showed worse performances on tests evaluating verbal and nonverbal long-term memory and attention, with comparable global cognitive functions. By applying current criteria for amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI-a) on TGA subjects, a group consisting of 18/55 (32.7%) MCI-a subjects was identified. There was no association between the presence of MCI-a and demographic variables, vascular risk factors, years since the TGA episode, or ApoE genotype. This study demonstrates that TGA appears to be a relatively benign syndrome although objective memory deficits fulfilling MCI-a criteria persist over time, as detected by multidimensional neuropsychological tasks performed at long-term follow-up.

Increased incidence of jugular valve insufficiency in patients with transient global amnesia

“…The findings of two additional studies have shown that cognitive deficits may persist after the end of the acute phase of the amnesic episode and be detected 3 to 4 days [9], and more than one year after the episode [4]. However, whether the persisting cognitive deficits result from the episode of TGA or if they are due to a pre-existing condition is unclear.…”

Long-Term Outcome in Transient Global Amnesia Patients with and without Focal Hyperintensities in the CA1 Region of the Hippocampus

“…Therefore, they should be associated with a higher probability of at least partially persistent cognitive impairment and of a detectable neuronal loss. Whereas numerous investigators have reported such long-lasting neuropsychological deficits [6,7,8,9,10,11], several studies devoted to imaging parameters [12], and especially the few dealing with the time course of the DWI changes, describe a complete remission of the hippocampal lesions without structural sequelae [3,4]. The important question, i.e.…”

Transient Global Amnesia – Full Recovery without Persistent Cognitive Impairment

“…[ 10, 14, 20]]. In contrast to our subjects, who were tested at an average of 3 years after the episode, most of the previously reported patients were examined within the first weeks or months after a TGA attack, hence at a period which still might be during the recovery phase.…”