Isolated memory loss doesn’t affect a person’s intelligence, general knowledge, awareness, attention span, judgment, personality or identity. Someone may recall experiences from childhood or know the names of past presidents, but not be able to name the current president, know what month it is or remember what was for breakfast. Recent memories are most likely to be lost, while more remote or deeply ingrained memories may be spared. Most people with amnesia have problems with short-term memory - they can’t retain new information. Difficulty remembering past events and previously familiar information (retrograde amnesia).Difficulty learning new information following the onset of amnesia (anterograde amnesia).There’s no specific treatment for amnesia, but techniques for enhancing memory and psychological support can help people with amnesia and their families cope. Unlike a temporary episode of memory loss (transient global amnesia), amnesia can be permanent. But, they may have trouble learning new information and forming new memories.Īmnesia can be caused by damage to areas of the brain that are vital for memory processing. Instead, people with amnesia - also called amnestic syndrome - usually know who they are. Though forgetting your identity is a common plot device in movies and television, that’s not generally the case in real-life amnesia. Amnesia refers to the loss of memories, such as facts, information and experiences.