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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
[Pure progressive amnesia, isolated for 16 years with focal hippocampus atrophy]
A Richard-Mornas1, N Foyatier-Michel, C Thomas-Antérion
1Unité de neuropsychologie, CM2R, CHU Nord, avenue Albert-Raimond, 42055 Saint-Etienne cedex 02, France. aurel.richard@gmail.com
Introduction:
Pure progressive amnesia is a rare and unusual syndrome involving long preservation of autonomy and absence of progression in other cognitive domains.
Case Report:
We report a case which remained quiescent for 16 years characterized by severe isolated episodic amnesia and preservation of spatial, semantic and implicit memory and autonomy. MRI revealed bilateral focal atrophy of the hippocampus.
Conclusion:
This specific pattern of impairment differs from other types of amnesic syndromes. It is important to identify this kind of amnesia because of its specific course. Studying the topography of the brain lesions may contribute to a better understanding of the neural systems involved in declarative memory.
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