open access

Vol 53, No 3 (2019)
Research Paper
Submitted: 2018-11-29
Accepted: 2019-05-13
Published online: 2019-06-04
Get Citation

Seasonal variations in the occurrence of transient global amnesia (TGA)

Justyna Chojdak-Łukasiewicz1, Edyta Dziadkowiak1, Leszek Noga2, Małgorzata Wieczorek3, Bogusław Paradowski1
·
Pubmed: 31162624
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2019;53(3):212-216.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Neurology, Wrocław Medical University, Poland
  2. Department of Pathophysiology, Wrocław Medical University
  3. Department of Geoinformatics and Cartography, University of Wrocław

open access

Vol 53, No 3 (2019)
Research papers
Submitted: 2018-11-29
Accepted: 2019-05-13
Published online: 2019-06-04

Abstract

Background. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a rare, benign condition characterised by a sudden deficit of anterograde and retrograde memory that usually lasts for a few hours and is not accompanied by other focal neurological symptoms or signs. Its aetiology is still unclear. Various events or activities may trigger TGA. Evidence of seasonal variations in the appearance of TGA is inconsistent.

Methods. We retrospectively analysed the medical history of 114 adult patients with diagnosed TGA, hospitalised at two neurology departments in Wrocław from 2008 to 2014. We reviewed risk factors, trigger points, and occurrence in each month of the year in our patient population.

Results. Over this seven-year period, 114 patients were diagnosed with TGA. The annual occurrence ranged from 13 to 22 hospitalisations. The mean age of the patients was 64 years. There were 36 TGA events in men and 78 in women. TGA occurred most frequently in spring (36%) and summer (30%), with the incidence peaking during March.

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that there is a relationship between the season of the year and the probability of TGA.

Abstract

Background. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a rare, benign condition characterised by a sudden deficit of anterograde and retrograde memory that usually lasts for a few hours and is not accompanied by other focal neurological symptoms or signs. Its aetiology is still unclear. Various events or activities may trigger TGA. Evidence of seasonal variations in the appearance of TGA is inconsistent.

Methods. We retrospectively analysed the medical history of 114 adult patients with diagnosed TGA, hospitalised at two neurology departments in Wrocław from 2008 to 2014. We reviewed risk factors, trigger points, and occurrence in each month of the year in our patient population.

Results. Over this seven-year period, 114 patients were diagnosed with TGA. The annual occurrence ranged from 13 to 22 hospitalisations. The mean age of the patients was 64 years. There were 36 TGA events in men and 78 in women. TGA occurred most frequently in spring (36%) and summer (30%), with the incidence peaking during March.

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that there is a relationship between the season of the year and the probability of TGA.

Get Citation

Keywords

transient global amnesia, seasonal variations

About this article
Title

Seasonal variations in the occurrence of transient global amnesia (TGA)

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 53, No 3 (2019)

Article type

Research Paper

Pages

212-216

Published online

2019-06-04

Page views

1359

Article views/downloads

346

DOI

10.5603/PJNNS.a2019.0021

Pubmed

31162624

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2019;53(3):212-216.

Keywords

transient global amnesia
seasonal variations

Authors

Justyna Chojdak-Łukasiewicz
Edyta Dziadkowiak
Leszek Noga
Małgorzata Wieczorek
Bogusław Paradowski

References (26)
  1. Szabo K. Front Neurol Neurosci. 2014; 34: 143–9.
  2. Hodges JR, Warlow CP. The aetiology of transient global amnesia. A case-control study of 114 cases with prospective follow-up. Brain. 1990; 113 ( Pt 3): 639–657.
  3. Owen D, Paranandi B, Sivakumar R, et al. Classical diseases revisited: transient global amnesia. Postgrad Med J. 2007; 83(978): 236–239.
  4. Quinette P, Guillery-Girard B, Dayan J, et al. What does transient global amnesia really mean? Review of the literature and thorough study of 142 cases. Brain. 2006; 129(Pt 7): 1640–1658.
  5. Hunter G. Transient global amnesia. Neurol Clin. 2011; 29(4): 1045–1054.
  6. Bartsch T, Deuschl G. Transient global amnesia: functional anatomy and clinical implications. Lancet Neurol. 2010; 9(2): 205–214.
  7. Spiegel DR, Mccroskey AL, Deyerle BA. A Case of Transient Global Amnesia: A Review and How It May Shed Further Insight into the Neurobiology of Delusions. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2016; 13(3-4): 32–41.
  8. Calabresi P, Centonze D, Pisani A, et al. Synaptic plasticity in the ischaemic brain. Lancet Neurol. 2003; 2(10): 622–629.
  9. Kosuge Y, Imai T, Kawaguchi M, et al. Subregion-specific vulnerability to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampal neurons. Neurochem Int. 2008; 52(6): 1204–1211.
  10. Hodges JR, Warlow CP. Syndromes of transient amnesia: towards a classification. A study of 153 cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1990; 53(10): 834–843.
  11. Enzinger C, Thimary F, Kapeller P, et al. Transient global amnesia: diffusion-weighted imaging lesions and cerebrovascular disease. Stroke. 2008; 39(8): 2219–2225.
  12. Alberici E, Pichiecchio A, Caverzasi E, et al. Transient global amnesia: hippocampal magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities. Funct Neurol. 2008; 23(3): 149–152.
  13. Huber R, Aschoff AJ, Ludolph AC, et al. Transient Global Amnesia. Evidence against vascular ischemic etiology from diffusion weighted imaging. J Neurol. 2002; 249(11): 1520–1524.
  14. Himeno T, Kuriyama M, Takemaru M, et al. Vascular Risk Factors and Internal Jugular Venous Flow in Transient Global Amnesia: A Study of 165 Japanese Patients. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2017; 26(10): 2272–2278.
  15. Güngör Tunçer Ö, Aksay Koyuncu B, Vildan Okudan Z, et al. Vascular Ischemia as a Cause of Transient Global Amnesia: A Patient Series. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2015; 52(1): 59–63.
  16. Akkawi NM, Agosti C, Grassi M, et al. Weather conditions and transient global amnesia. A six-year study. J Neurol. 2006; 253(2): 194–198.
  17. Keret O, Lev N, Shochat T, et al. Seasonal Changes in the Incidence of Transient Global Amnesia. J Clin Neurol. 2016; 12(4): 403–406.
  18. Nyquist PA, Brown RD, Wiebers DO, et al. Circadian and seasonal occurrence of subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurology. 2001; 56(2): 190–193.
  19. Fares A. Winter cardiovascular diseases phenomenon. N Am J Med Sci. 2013; 5(4): 266–279.
  20. Wang X, Cao Y, Hong D, et al. Ambient Temperature and Stroke Occurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016; 13(7).
  21. de Steenhuijsen Piters WAA, Algra A, van den Broek MFM, et al. Seasonal and meteorological determinants of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol. 2013; 260(2): 614–619.
  22. Melo TP, Ferro JM, Ferro H. Transient global amnesia. A case control study. Brain. 1992; 115 Pt 1: 261–270.
  23. Lauria G, Gentile M, Fassetta G, et al. Transient global amnesia and transient ischemic attack: a community-based case-control study. Acta Neurol Scand. 1998; 97(6): 381–385.
  24. Brigo F, Lochner P, Tezzon F, et al. Incidence of transient global amnesia in Merano, province of Bolzano, Italy. Acta Neurol Belg. 2014; 114(4): 293–296.
  25. Lewis SL. Aetiology of transient global amnesia. Lancet. 1998; 352(9125): 397–399.
  26. Pantoni L, Bertini E, Lamassa M, et al. Clinical features, risk factors, and prognosis in transient global amnesia: a follow-up study. Eur J Neurol. 2005; 12(5): 350–356.

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp. z o.o., ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk, Poland
tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, fax:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail: viamedica@viamedica.pl