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Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a dramatic event. Without warning, the patient suddenly experiences antegrade memory loss.1,2⇓ As quickly as the amnesic syndrome appears, it resolves, usually within 24 hours. There are no apparent long-term sequelae, and recurrence is uncommon.
What causes TGA? For years this question has been debated. Various proponents have advocated ischemic, migrainous, and epileptic causes.3 Even a neuropsychological cause has been proposed.3 Unfortunately, definitive evidence supporting any of these mechanisms has been lacking.
More recently, Lewis hypothesized that TGA was related to venous congestion due to retrograde venous cerebral blood flow, because of the commonly reported association between TGA and situations that result in reduced venous return and retrograde venous blood flow (e.g., sexual activity, stress, Valsalva maneuver).4 Interestingly, there is some support for this hypothesis. The same group has reported that a significantly higher percentage of TGA patients possess jugular venous backflow with Valsalva compared with controls.5,6⇓
Can MRI help provide answers? The profound nature of the memory deficit has encouraged speculation that …
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