scholarly journals Familial Retinal Arteriolar Tortuosity with Acute Hippocampal Infarction

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Hee Kim ◽  
Sonia Lee ◽  
Su Jin Lim

Purpose: To report a case of familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity with acute hippocampal infarction. Method: Single-patient case report. Results: A 50-year-old woman presented with blurred vision and was found to have cataract, retinal hemorrhages, and tortuous retinal arterioles in both eyes. Similar findings of tortuous retinal arterioles were observed in her daughter and son. In her past history of 6 years prior to the visit, she had been diagnosed with transient global amnesia after brain magnetic resonance imaging, which showed hippocampal infarction and multiple chronic ischemic lesions in the periventricular and subcortical white matter. Conclusion: Familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity is known to affect the retinal vessels only. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ischemic injury to the brain in a patient with familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-241
Author(s):  
Seunghee Na ◽  
Eek-Sung Lee ◽  
Seung-Jae Lee

A 65-year-old man with no underlying medical history visited the neurology department due to transient amnesia lasting for about 8 h. During the amnesia episode, he was alert but showed repetitive questioning. The episode fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for transient global amnesia (TGA). On workups for excluding alternative diagnoses, the brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3 × 6 cm-sized hemorrhagic pituitary tumor extending to the left medial temporal lobe and anterior hippocampus. The electroencephalogram revealed intermittent slowing in the left temporal region with normal backgrounds. The tumor was surgically removed and pathologically proven to be a nonfunctioning adenoma. At 6 months postoperatively, no complication or new amnestic episode occurred. Thus, our case had a typical TGA as the first manifestation of a pituitary tumor. There were no features of epileptic amnesia. Transiently altered flow status from a mass effect in the memory-eloquent area might be the possible pathogenic mechanism underlying the TGA though there still remains a probability of chance concurrence of TGA and tumor.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Gallardo-Tur ◽  
Jorge Romero-Godoy ◽  
Carlos de la Cruz Cosme ◽  
Adriá Arboix

Background. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a syndrome of sudden, unexplained isolated short-term memory loss. In the majority of TGA cases, no causes can be identified and neuroimaging, CSF studies and EEG are usually normal. We present a patient with TGA associated with a small acute infarct at the cingulate gyrus.Case Report. The patient, a 62 year-old man, developed two episodes of TGA. He had hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. He was found to have an acute ischemic stroke of small size (15 mm of maximal diameter) at the right cerebral cingulate gyrus diagnosed on brain magnetic resonance imaging. No lesions involving other limbic system structures such as thalamus, fornix, corpus callosum, or hippocampal structures were seen. The remainder of the examination was normal.Conclusion. Unilateral ischemic lesions of limbic system structures may result in TGA. We must bear in mind that TGA can be an associated clinical disorder of cingulate gyrus infarct.


Mind Shift ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
John Parrington

This introductory chapter begins by providing an overview of the power of the human brain, which is displayed in the wonders of modern civilization. Despite the human brain’s capacity for such intellectual and technological feats, we still know astonishingly little about how it achieves them. This deficit in understanding is a problem not only because it means we lack basic knowledge of the biological factors that underlie our human uniqueness, but also because, for all its amazing capabilities, the human mind seems particularly prone to dysfunction. Still, some would argue there is good reason to be optimistic about the prospect of developing new and better treatments for mental disorders in the not-so-distant future. Such optimism is based on the increasing potential to study how the brain works in various important new ways thanks to recent technological innovations. The chapter then considers two overly polarised views of the human mind. Ultimately, this book argues that society radically restructures the human brain within an individual person’s lifetime, and that it has also played a central role in the past history of our species, by shaping brain evolution.


2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Min Park ◽  
Byung In Lee ◽  
Sung Eun Kim

Background: We evaluated a brain network using graph theoretical analysis and microstructural abnormalities of the white matter in patients with transient global amnesia (TGA). Methods: Twenty patients with TGA and healthy control subjects were recruited, and they underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans. Graph theory was applied to obtain network measures based on DTI data. We investigated the network measures and microstructural abnormalities of white matter using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis in the patients with TGA. Results: Measures of global topology were not different between the patients with TGA and healthy subjects. However, there were significant differences of hubs organization; the strength of the right superior and inferior orbitofrontal, the right inferior frontal operculum, the left superior parietal, and left postcentral gyrus, the cluster coefficient of the right middle orbitofrontal and left inferior parietal gyrus, the betweenness centrality of the left angular gyrus, and the pagerank centrality of the right superior and inferior orbitofrontal, right inferior frontal operculum, left superior parietal, and left postcentral gyrus in the patients with TGA were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects. Regarding the analysis of the white matter microstructure with TBSS, there were no differences in the fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values between the 2 groups. Conclusions: We newly identify a reorganization of network hubs of the brain network in patients with TGA, especially in the regions of the default-mode network. These alterations of the brain network may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying TGA and suggest that TGA is a network disease.


1968 ◽  
Vol 171 (1024) ◽  
pp. 335-352 ◽  

I am afraid that I find a title such as 'The logical analysis of cerebral functions’ irresistible. With what can it be contrasted except ‘The illogical analysis of cerebral functions’ ? Logic is a set of rules that allows one to deduce certain conclusions from certain assumptions. It is best carried out while sitting in an armchair or, nowadays, in a swivel chair in front of a computer console. But, of course, everything depends on the assumptions, and given any set of assumptions it is only a matter of time before, in principle, all possible conclusions can be listed exhaustively. Then, one can compare some of the conclusions with actual empirical results, provided one has the necessary connecting assumptions. This is a classical strategy. But given the peculiar past history and present state of our knowledge about cerebral functions, I am afraid that I am driven to embrace a contrasting approach of an ‘illogical analysis of cerebral functions’. Or, perhaps I should say I prefer an analysis of cerebral function that depends on inference rather than deduction. Deduction is an all-or none affair. It either leads to the brilliant break-through or to the scrap heap, or at least to the repair shop for patching or remoulding. In the history of our subject the scrap merchants have grown rich. I prefer a state of affairs where the assumptions stem from the conclusions rather than the conclusions from the assumptions. The problem of the analysis of cerebral function, as I see it, is that an organism both behaves, with all that can be elaborated by that word, and it also possesses a brain. But the two universes of discourse are quite different—there is nothing that we can say in making an assertion about the possession of a cranium that overlaps with descriptions about behaviour, except that without such a possession no behaviour is displayed for long. That is not a remarkable statement nor even one restricted to possession of an intact cranium: it applies equally forcefully to other vital organs. But somehow we have reached the point where we have more than a shrewd suspicion that the two are not independent—and it is by no means immediately obvious that they are not, as evidenced by the Greek hypothesis that the brain was a device merely for cooling the blood. But how do we study the mutual interaction? I suspect that one rather good way is by following the same steps that have already led us, over the centuries, to the firm view that there is some connexion between brain and behaviour. But progress has been painfully slow, and we are impatient.


1970 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
Olimpio Antônio Cornehl Da Silva ◽  
Rodrigo Ribeiro Tiengo

Introdução: A amnésia global transitória (AGT) consiste na ocorrência de sintomas como perda da memória e perda da orientação temporal e/ou espacial, de caráter temporário, e cuja causa não está associada às condições neurológicas mais comuns e clássicas, como epilepsia ou acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). Os maiores fatores de risco conhecidos para a AGT são a idade, geralmente ocorrendo em maiores de 50 anos, a ocorrência de episódios de estresse ou esforço físico antes do evento, sendo comum ocorrer em pessoas com antecedentes de enxaqueca. Casuística: Neste trabalho foi relatado o caso de um paciente de 61 anos, do sexo masculino, com história de amnésia com duração de um período de 5 horas. O mesmo foi submetido ao exame de ressonância magnética no dia seguinte que não evidenciou alterações; devido à suspeita de AGT, um novo exame de RM foi realizado três dias depois, demonstrando pequena área de alteração de sinal no hipocampo direito. Discussão: Os testes diagnósticos a serem realizados incluem exames para investigar um possível AVC ou episódio epiléptico. Além disso, é importante a investigação de fatores psicossomáticos e pesquisa de transtornos psiquiátricos associados, bastante relacionados à ocorrência de AGT. Conclusão: Atualmente, ainda há estudos sobre esta patologia, principalmente em relação a sua causa subjacente, levantando-se a hipótese de que seja um sintoma comum a diversas doenças e não uma patologia em si, tornando de suma importância os exames complementares de imagem no seu diagnóstico.  Palavras chave: amnésia, amnésia transitória, memória. Introduction: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is the occurrence of symptoms such as loss of memory and orientation to time and/or space, with a temporary character, and whose cause is not linked to the most common classic and neurological conditions, such as epilepsy or stroke. The major known risk factors for TGA are age, usually occurring in greater than 50 year-old people the occurrence of episodes of stress or physical exertion before the event, and it is common in people with a history of migraine. Case Report: We report the case of a 61 year old male with a history of amnesia lasting for a period of 5 hours without  other changes. This patient was submitted to MRI on the next day, which showed no alterations, due to suspicion of AGT the examwas repeated and showed morphological changes in the hippocampus. Discussion: Diagnostic tests include some tests to be performed to investigate a possible stroke (CVA) or epileptic episode. Furthermore it is important to investigate psychosomatic factors, and research psychiatric disorders, that are closely related to the occurrence of AGT. Conclusion: Currently, there are no studies on this pathology, especially in relation to its underlying cause, raising the hypothesis that it is a common symptom of many diseases and not a disease itself, making it extremely important to perform complementary imaging in diagnosis  Keywords: amnesia, transiente amnesia, memory.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Tomoki Nakamizo ◽  
Ippei Tsuzuki ◽  
Takashi Koide

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a self-limited disease characterized by isolated amnesia, which resolves within 24 h. In contrast, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a potentially life-threatening disease that usually presents with seizures, altered mental status, headache, and visual disturbances. It is characterized by reversible vasogenic edema that predominantly involves the parieto-occipital subcortical white matter as shown by neuroimaging studies. To date, there have been no reported cases of PRES with a clinical course resembling TGA. Here we report the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented with isolated amnesia and headache. On admission, her blood pressure was 187/100 mmHg. She had complete anterograde amnesia and slight retrograde amnesia without other neurological findings. After the treatment of her hypertension, the amnesia resolved within 24 h. Although the initial magnetic resonance image (MRI) was almost normal, the fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) images of the MRI on the next day revealed several small foci of high intensity areas in the fronto-parieto-occipital subcortical white matter, presumed to be vasogenic edema in PRES. The lesions disappeared one month later. This case suggests that PRES can mimic the clinical course of TGA. PRES should be considered in the differential diagnosis for TGA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Liampas ◽  
Maria Raptopoulou ◽  
Stefanos Mpourlios ◽  
Vasileios Siokas ◽  
Zisis Tsouris ◽  
...  

Abstract The examination of the risk factors that affect the recurrence of transient global amnesia (TGA) may shed light on the pathophysiological substrate of the disease. A systematic review was performed to identify the factors associated with the recurrence of TGA. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PsycINFO were meticulously searched. Observational controlled studies involving patients with single (s-TGA) and recurrent TGA (r-TGA) according to Hodges and Warlow’s criteria were retrieved. Differences in the demographic characteristics, personal and family medical history, previous exposure to precipitating events and laboratory findings were examined. Retrieved evidence was assessed in the context of the individual article validity, based on the numerical power and methodological quality of each study. Nine cohort studies with retrospective, prospective or mixed design were retrieved. In total, 1989 patients with TGA were included, 269 of whom suffered from r-TGA (13.5%). R-TGA presented an earlier age of onset. Evidence was suggestive of a relationship between recurrence and a family or personal history of migraine, as well as a personal history of depression. There was weaker evidence that associated recurrence with a positive family history of dementia, a personal history of head injury and hippocampal lesions in diffusion-weighted MRI. On the other hand, no connection was found between recurrence and electroencephalographic abnormalities, impaired jugular venous drainage, cardiovascular risk factors, atrial fibrillation, previous cerebrovascular events, exposure to precipitating events, a positive family history of TGA and hypothyroidism. Important pathophysiological insights that arised from these findings were discussed.


2022 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mahmoud ◽  
◽  
Bo Gu ◽  
Benito Armenta ◽  
Nikita Samra

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. History of Present Illness: The patient is a previously healthy 61-year-old Spanish-speaking woman who was unable to speak after awakening. Per Emergency Medical Service she was found to be aphasic upon their arrival. While in the Emergency Room the patient was able to speak, alert and oriented x4, with all her symptoms spontaneously resolved. The patient denied fever, chills, blurred vision, headache or any history of migraines, TIA, or stroke. The patient had a similar event about two weeks earlier which also spontaneously resolved. During that time, the patient had a non-contrast CT head and an MRI of the brain, both of which were unremarkable. Her home medications include aspirin 81 mg and atorvastatin 40 mg daily. Past Medical History, Family History and Social History: The patient denies tobacco use or use of illicit drugs. She reports that she will occasionally drink alcohol. There is no family history of strokes. …


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Tynas ◽  
Peter K Panegyres

Abstract Aetiology of transient global amnesia (TGA) remains uncertain, though many have been proposed, including ischaemic, migrainous or epileptic pathologies. We attempted to determine risk factors for TGA, as well as prognostic factors that may cause recurrence. We evaluated clinical history, family history and magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) studies of 93 prospective patients with TGA. Patients were followed from 2004-2016. Fifteen of 93 (16%) patients experienced a recurrence of TGA. Among precipitating events, physical activities inducing Valsalva-like manoeuvres were most common, followed by emotional stress. Eighty-four patients had possible comorbidities or risk factors for TGA, though no single risk factor was ubiquitous. Risk factors associated with recurrence were head injury (isolated vs. recurrent, 16.7% vs. 53.5%, p < 0.01), depression (isolated vs. recurrent, 15.4% vs 46.7%, p = 0.01) and family history of dementia (isolated vs. recurrent, 20.5% vs. 46.7%, p = 0.03). Of 15 patients with confirmed recurrent TGA, two developed dementia and four subjective memory impairment. DWI lesions were observed in 24 patients and were located anywhere within the hippocampus. DWI lesions were not significantly associated with outcomes (recurrence, subjective memory impairment, dementia). We have found that depression, previous head injury and family history of dementia may predict TGA recurrence.


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