Memory Impairments

Amnesia

• Loss of memory ability - usually due to lesion (damage) or surgical removal of various parts of the brain.

Amnesia

• Loss of memory ability - usually due to lesion or surgical removal of various parts of the brain

• Two broad categories:– Retrograde: loss of memories for events

prior to damage

Amnesia

• Loss of memory ability - usually due to lesion or surgical removal of various parts of the brain

• Two broad categories:– Retrograde: loss of memories for events

prior to damage– Anterograde: loss of ability to store new

memories of events after damage

RetrogradeAmnesia

AnterogradeAmnesia

Amnesia

Amnesia

• Typically impacts LTM, not short-term or sensory memory!

Causes of Amnesia• Concussion• Migraines• Hypoglycemia• Epilepsy• Electroconvulsive shock therapy• Specific brain lesions (i.e. surgical removal) • Ischemic events• Drugs (esp. anesthetics)• Infection• Psychological• Nutritional deficiency• Sleep/Circadian effects• Aging

Causes of Amnesia• Concussion• Migraines• Hypoglycemia• Epilepsy• Electroconvulsive shock therapy• Specific brain lesions (i.e. surgical removal) • Ischemic events• Drugs (esp. anesthetics)• Infection• Psychological• Nutritional deficiency• Sleep/Circadian effects• Aging

Causes of Amnesia• Concussion• Migraines• Hypoglycemia• Epilepsy• Electroconvulsive shock therapy• Specific brain lesions (i.e. surgical removal) • Ischemic events• Drugs (esp. anesthetics)• Infection• Psychological• Nutritional deficiency• Sleep/Circadian effects• Aging

But not HM!

Causes of Amnesia• Concussion• Migraines• Hypoglycemia• Epilepsy• Electroconvulsive shock therapy• Specific brain lesions (i.e. surgical removal) • Ischemic events• Drugs (esp. anesthetics)• Infection• Psychological• Nutritional deficiency• Sleep/Circadian effects• Aging

Nutritional Deficiency

• Anorexia– Cognitive impairments– Mood disorder– Abnormal cort response

Korsakoff’s Syndrome

• Lesions to Medial Thalamus– Results from chronic alcoholism and

consequent thiamine deficiency

Korsakoff’s SyndromeThe Lost Mariner

What happened to Jimmie? What was his life like?

Korsakoff’s Syndrome (The Lost Mariner)

• Lesions to Medial Thalamus– Results from chronic alcoholism and

consequent thiamine deficiency– Severe anterograde amnesia

Korsakoff’s Syndrome (The Lost Mariner)

• Lesions to Medial Thalamus– Results from chronic alcoholism and

consequent thiamine deficiency– Severe anterograde amnesia– Severe retrograde amnesia extending

years before damage

Korsakoff’s Syndrome (The Lost Mariner)

• Lesions to Medial Thalamus– Results from chronic alcoholism and

consequent thiamine deficiency– Severe anterograde amnesia– Severe retrograde amnesia extending

years before damage– Confabulation - make up stories to explain

absence of memory

Korsakoff’s Syndrome (The Lost Mariner)

• Lesions to Medial Thalamus– Results from chronic alcoholism and

consequent thiamine deficiency– Severe anterograde amnesia– Severe retrograde amnesia extending

years before damage– Confabulation - make up stories to explain

absence of memory– Often unaware of their deficit

Korsakoff’s Summary

• Chronic alcohol consumption can damage memory. In what regard?– Graded retrograde amnesia– Profound anterograde amnesia

Brain Damage• Patient R.B.

Ischemic damage– Specific memory

impairments (e.g., Rey-Osterrieth figure drawing task

Brain Damage• Patient R.B. Ischemic damage.

Brain Damage• Patient N.A. Mechanical injury

– Profound impairments on verbal memory tests• Word list recall

Brain Damage Summary

• Impairments can be limited to specific memory.

• Take care of your cardiovascular system.

• Don’t get stabbed in the brain.

Everyone experiences memory loss with agingCognitive Aging

Problematic Cognitive Aging

• Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Dementia– Alzheimer’s Disease

Mild Cognitive Impairment

• There are different subtypes– Single Cognitive domain– Multiple cognitive domains– Amnestic– Nonamnestic

Prospective Memory

– Prospective memory effects• Remembering that you have to do something

– Cued– Time

– Retrospective memory effects• I knew I supposed to do something…

Dementia

• Functional changes• Most common: AD

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Cognitive traits– Language impairments– Visuospatial disturbance– Memory loss ****

– Minimize stress– Proper nutrition (eat your veggies)– Healthy lifestyle (exercise and sleep)– Keep using your brain– Protect your brain from injury– Everything in moderation

Don’t despair, you can protect your memory/brain!