What Is Retrograde Amnesia? Its Impact On Memory And Overall Well-being

Imagine waking up and being unable to remember part of your childhood, your own wedding, or the career path that landed you where you are today. This is what it’s like for people living with retrograde amnesia, which is a form of memory loss that can erase years or decades of memories. Because our memory is such a core part of who we are, this kind of significant memory loss can be disorienting and unsettling, negatively impacting all aspects of a person’s well-being. However, with support from family and friends, as well as medical professionals, a person with retrograde amnesia can relearn themselves and continue to lead a fulfilling life. 

Has retrograde amnesia stolen your sense of self?

A therapist is here to help

What is retrograde amnesia?

Types of retrograde amnesia

Retrograde memory loss can present in different forms, depending on what caused the amnesia, how far back the memory loss goes, and even what kind of memories are lost. Below are the main types of retrograde amnesia. 

• Temporally graded retrograde amnesia - In this type of amnesia, memory loss is worse for events closer to the time of injury and better for older memories. It’s most common in brain injuries and conditions like Alzheimer’s. 
• Focal retrograde amnesia - Also referred to as isolated or pure retrograde amnesia, this is an isolated form of amnesia in which a person forgets personal life events but doesn’t experience other cognitive impairments. Someone with this type of amnesia has no trouble forming new memories, and their intelligence is not impacted. 
• Post-traumatic amnesia - Post-traumatic amnesia involves memory loss resulting from physical brain trauma, like a concussion or accident. It’s usually temporary and spans minutes to hours before the injury. This is the type of amnesia that athletes or car crash survivors typically experience. 
• Dissociative amnesia - Someone who experiences a violent traumatic event may develop dissociative amnesia, also known as psychogenic amnesia. This is a type of retrograde amnesia caused by emotional shock. Typically, the person cannot remember what happened leading up to the traumatic event. 
• Transient global amnesia - Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a sudden and temporary episode of memory loss. During a TGA episode, a person is unable to form new memories and might temporarily forget older memories. However, they retain all of their other cognitive functions, such as speech. Episodes usually last just a few hours, and once an episode is over, the person regains their memory, except for the time during the episode itself. 

Common causes and risk factors

In general, amnesia arises when damage occurs to the parts of the brain related to memory, such as the hippocampus and thalamus. Some of the most common causes of amnesia include the following:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Health conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and brain tumors
• Cardiac arrest, which deprives the brain of oxygen
• Stroke
• Any type of seizure
• Substance misuse
• Brain infections like encephalitis and meningitis

Differences between retrograde and anterograde amnesia

The main kinds of amnesia are anterograde and retrograde amnesia. The biggest difference between the two is the direction of memory loss relative to the event that caused it. While someone with retrograde amnesia is unable to remember events prior to the onset of the condition, someone with anterograde amnesia struggles to make new memories after the onset of the condition. 

Can a brain be impacted by retrograde and anterograde amnesia at the same time?

A person can have retrograde and anterograde amnesia at the same time, meaning that they may lose past memories and become unable to form new memories. This combination is most often seen in people who lose their memory due to a traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, dementia, or Korsakoff’s Syndrome. 

How the brain stores and recalls memories

To store memories, the brain processes sensory input and puts this information into a memory. In time, these memories are consolidated, most often when we sleep. The hippocampus turns short-term memories into long-term memories, and the prefrontal cortex helps the brain keep all these memories organized. In addition, the neocortex is responsible for semantic memory (facts) and episodic memory (personal experiences), while the amygdala is responsible for emotional memory.

The prefrontal cortex also helps us access our stored memories, but for that to happen, we must retain both the memory itself and the path to retrieve it. With retrograde memory loss, brain damage generally occurs in areas that are responsible for storing or retrieving old memories. The cause of a person’s retrograde amnesia usually determines what kinds of memories are lost and how far back the memory loss goes.

Living with memory loss

Living with retrograde amnesia can impact many aspects of a person’s psychological, emotional, physical, and social well-being. The person doesn’t just experience cognitive challenges; the loss of retrograde memory also affects how a person views themself and how they relate to others.

Psychological effects

Someone with retrograde amnesia may struggle to find their sense of identity. They can lose key memories from their childhood and adult years and may believe that they don’t know who they really are.

In some cases, such as in Alzheimer’s-related memory loss, a person realizes they can’t remember certain things, but they may not be able to pinpoint what they’ve forgotten. Being aware that your memory is unreliable, but unable to do anything to fix it, can lead someone to live in a constant state of anxiety. 

Losing the memories of past social bonds or personal routines can lead someone with retrograde amnesia to experience paranoia or distrust. For example, someone with the condition may forget where they previously placed a belonging and believe that another person stole it. 

Emotional effects

Repeated memory lapses can contribute to emotional exhaustion, both for the individual experiencing them and for their loved ones or caregivers. Memory lapses can also lead to feelings of loneliness as a person loses the memories they share with others. If someone is able to recover their memory, they may still live in fear of having another episode. 

Physical effects

Social effects

Feeling unsure in social situations may lead someone with retrograde amnesia to withdraw from others. Because they don’t remember who certain people are or recall what their social expectations are, it may seem easier to remain in isolation. 

Memory loss can also take away from a person’s independence. Being unable to drive or safely prepare food may force them to rely on others to meet their needs. 

The link between memory loss and mental health challenges

The challenges associated with retrograde amnesia can contribute to the development of mental health conditions. For example, approximately 40% to 50% of people with Alzheimer’s reportedly experience symptoms of depression. 

How to support someone’s well-being and mental health after memory loss

Retrograde amnesia can be treated if it’s caused by a medical condition like epilepsy. However, some causes of amnesia, like Alzheimer’s disease, can’t be cured. When that’s the case, it can help for people with amnesia to have a supportive community that cares about their well-being. 

Being aware of the difficulties associated with retrograde amnesia is an important first step. It can help loved ones approach the situation with more empathy and patience and learn how to respond appropriately. 

Friends and family should be patient with memory gaps and avoid pressuring someone with retrograde amnesia to try to remember certain events. They can try to fill in gaps when possible or just focus on creating new memories together. 

Consistency and structure can reduce the anxiety associated with memory loss. For example, visits might be better in a familiar location, instead of going out to eat at a new restaurant. Following the same routine each day can also provide comfort. 

Can therapy help people with retrograde amnesia?

Therapy can be beneficial for someone with retrograde amnesia. In some cases, it can address memory loss due to traumatic events or accidents, but it can be helpful even if past memories never return. In therapy, an individual can learn how to cope with memory loss and rebuild their identity.

In many cases, professional mental health support is also beneficial for the loved ones of someone experiencing memory loss. Helping someone navigate the impact of their amnesia is often mentally and emotionally draining. In therapy, an individual can learn coping skills and share how the memory loss has affected their own life.

If you’re caring for someone with retrograde amnesia, it may be hard to get away for therapy sessions, depending on the severity of the individual’s memory loss. If that’s the case, it may be worth considering online therapy. Flexible scheduling, combined with the ability to attend therapy from anywhere you have an internet connection, makes online therapy a convenient option for many people. 

Studies have looked at the impact that online therapy has on caregivers for memory loss patients, and found that internet-based interventions can improve their mental health and emotional well-being, as well as their perceived stress and anxiety.