Disorders of Memory

Question 1

What is herpes encephalitis? What is its brain pathology and symptoms?

Answer 1

• caused by herpes infection of the brain
• Causes bilateral medial temporal lobe damage
• Severe form of amnesia similar to korsakoff patients but with greater insight into disorder

Question 2

What causes severe hypoxia? What is the pathology associated with the disorder?

Answer 2

• Results from carbon monoxide poisoning, drug overdose, suicide attempts
• Bilateral atrophy of pyramidal cells in CA1 region
• Bilateral reduction in thalamic glucose metabolism

Question 3

What is transient global amnesia?

Answer 3

• occurs in middle age / elderly
• Lasts 4-12 hours
• Believed to be caused by transient disturbance in limbic-hippocampal circuits
• Anterograde amnesia, confusion common