Difference Between Anterograde Amnesia and Retrograde Amnesia

Anterograde Amnesia vs. Retrograde Amnesia

Amnesia is a common cliché for movies and television programs. In those instances, it is portrayed as the dramatic form of forgetting who you are. Thus, it is not just as simple as that. It occurs when a part of the brain in which the function is to retrieve stored memories is at risk. The limbic system is the region of the brain that possesses the said function. It consists of the amygdala portions of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Aside from memory retrieval, this region of the brain also functions as the coordinating center of emotions and motivations and for a few of the endocrine system controls. People with amnesia have a dysfunctional limbic system. However, there would be no evident change in attention span, motivation, language, and spatial functioning since these characteristics involve other parts of the brain.

There are several types of amnesia and abundant ways to categorize the condition as well. It can be classified based on the type of affected memory, based on the origin, based on the length of time the condition lasts, etc. Anterograde and retrograde amnesia are just two of the numerous amnesia types that exist. Retrograde amnesia is the involvement of the memory loss of events, people, places, etc. that were encountered and experienced before the amnesia took its toll on the patient. Anterograde amnesia, on the other hand, involves the lack of ability to form latest memories of any variety after the disorder developed.

The conditions are both very serious even though they differ accordingly. The drastic disruption of the patient’s life can make it extremely difficult to normally function the same way the person acted before the incident. As for retrograde amnesia, definite forms of memories may be entirely difficult to get to. The person may not be able to recognize a number of people and will not have even a single memory about them; he can lose some essential skills such as encoding. In some instances, the person may not be able to be familiar with some objects and may even be unacquainted with their own self. These incidents do not usually occur but they can happen.

In anterograde amnesia, the patient won’t be able to create new memories. He possibly will not be able to learn skills that are not familiar to him before the incident, and may not be able to remember experiences that may happen on the same day and so on. This may give the impression of having less trouble than losing one’s intellect of his identity and memories of associations. It is, nevertheless, traumatic because it can hinder even simple daily tasks. Anterograde and retrograde amnesia can both be present in one individual which makes it very difficult to deal with.

The management for both anterograde and retrograde amnesia is significantly complex and cannot be summarized. The disorder should be assessed from all angles, and the management must be introduced in the same approach. For home care, the most essential thing is the patience and support that the family and friends provide to the patient.

Summary:

1.Anterograde and retrograde amnesia are just two of the numerous amnesia types that exist.

2.Retrograde amnesia is the involvement of the memory loss of events, people, places, etc. that were encountered and experienced before the amnesia took its toll on the patient. Anterograde amnesia, on the other hand, involves the lack of the ability to form the latest memories of all varieties after the disorder developed.
3.The conditions are both very serious and they differ accordingly.
4.As for retrograde amnesia, definite forms of memories may be entirely difficult to get to. In anterograde amnesia, the patient won’t be able to create new memories.

5.The person may not be able to recognize a number of people and will not have even a single memory about them; he can lose some essential skills such as encoding in retrograde amnesia. In anterograde amnesia, he possibly will not be able to learn skills that are not familiar to him before the incident, and may not be able to remember experiences that may happen on the same day and so on.

6.Anterograde and retrograde amnesia can both be present in one individual which makes it very difficult to deal with.

7.The management for both anterograde and retrograde amnesia is significantly complex and cannot be summarized.

8.For home care, the most essential thing is the patience and support that the family and friends provide to the patient.

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