Duration
Depending on the form of amnesia, the duration of the memory disorders varies. In the case of temporary memory loss, the symptoms usually disappear within a few hours and do not last longer than a day. If, however, it is a retrograde amnesia after an accident, for example, in which one does not remember the course of the accident, the memory of the event becomes fragile, if at all, only after some time. In various forms of dementia, on the other hand, the memory disorders can increase as the disease progresses, because with increasing age the brain volume also decreases.
Prognosis
Depending on the trigger, the prognosis also differs. Although the extent of brain damage is not always clearly correlated with memory loss, the latter is more favourable if the cause is clear and can be treated well. For example, if epilepsy or cranial nerve inflammation is detected and treated immediately, there is less risk of permanent damage.
Especially in the case of a craniocerebral trauma with loss of consciousness and accompanying symptoms, immediate therapy is crucial, since every minute lost with reduced supply to the brain can cause more damage. In retrospect, the lost memory performance can be favourably influenced by a targeted training of the short-term memory and the reactivation of the long-term memory. In some cases it is even possible to regain the erased memory content over time. However, this can take several years.
