Effects Of Brain Trauma On Memory

Effects of Brain Trauma on Memory

The term brain trauma is an ‘umbrella’ term that refers to any brain injury that impairs the normal functioning of the brain. The effect can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. Some brain injuries may be congenital (inherited), but most are acquired at some time after birth

A neurodegenerative disease is a disorder characterised by the progressive decline in the structure, activity and function of brain tissue. Essentially, neurons within the brain tissue (‘neuro’) gradually become damaged or deteriorate (‘degenerate’) and lose their function, hence the term ‘neurodegenerative’. With neurodegenerative diseases, the gradual deterioration is usually age-related. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disease linked to damaged neurons, resulting in progressive memory failure and loss as well as a range of other problems. It is age-related because it is more common in older people and the problems usually worsen with age.

The term amnesia is used to refer to loss of memory that is inconsistent with ordinary forgetting. Memory loss may be either partial or complete, temporary or permanent. Brain trauma commonly results in some kind of amnesia. The nature, location and severity of the injury determine the specific characteristics of the amnesia.