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Published on: August 11, 2023
Transient global amnesia with transient anosmia: a curious case suggestive of middle cerebral artery occlusion
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Sunlight Brain Research Center, 4-13-18 Jiyugaoka, Hofu, 747-0066 Yamaguchi, Japan.
Background:
Transient global amnesia (TGA) is an enigmatic amnestic syndrome and affects people in middle or older age. During an episode of TGA, a person is not able to make new memories, which indicates hippocampal damage. The symptom anosmia may be associated with memory impairment.
Case Presentation:
A 70-year-old woman presented to our emergency room with transient spatial memory loss. She also complained of a sudden loss of smell. Magnetic resonance angiography confirmed occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.
Discussion And Conclusion:
The mechanism causing the transient anosmia may have resulted in a transient loss of hippocampal function, resulting in amnesia. This rare case is consistent with recent research showing that olfaction has developed as a navigation system.
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