Affiliations: Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma,
Parma, Italy | Outpatient Clinic for the Diagnosis and Therapy of
Cognitive Disorders, Parma, Italy | Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University of Hull,
Hull, United Kingdom | Servizio di Fisica Sanitaria, Azienda Ospedaliera di
Parma, Parma, Italy
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Paolo Caffarra M.D., Department of
Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Gramsci,14, 43100 Parma, Italy.
Tel./Fax: +39 0521 704116; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: A patient who suffered a transient global amnesia (TGA) attack
underwent regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) SPECT imaging and
neuropsychological testing in the acute phase, after one month and after one
year. Neuropsychological testing in the acute phase showed a pattern of
anterograde and retrograde amnesia, whereas memory was within age normal limits
at follow up. SPECT data were analysed with a within subject comparison and
also compared with those of a group of healthy controls. Within subject
comparison between the one month follow up and the acute phase detected
increases in rCBF in the hippocampus bilaterally; further rCBF increases in the
right hippocampus were detected after one year. Compared to controls,
significant hypoperfusion was found in the right precentral, cingulate and
medial frontal gyri in the acute phase; after one month significant
hypoperfusion was detected in the right precentral and cingulate gyri and the
left postcentral gyrus; after one year no significant hypoperfusion appeared.
The restoration of memory was paralleled by rCBF increases in the hippocampus
and fronto-limbic-parietal cortex; after one year neither significant rCBF
differences nor cognitive deficits were detectable. In conclusion, these data
indicate that TGA had no long lasting cognitive and neural alterations in this
patient.
Keywords: Transient global amnesia, episodic memory, cognitive deficits, SPECT, brain
