What is transient global amnesia?
What if you couldn’t make new memories for a day? Learn about the triggers, risk factors, and causes of this interesting condition.
By Rachelle Dugue, MD, PhD
September 8, 2026
Key takeaways
- Transient global amnesia is a temporary condition where you can’t make new memories. It resolves within 24 hours.
- It doesn’t cause any lasting problems, but it’s still important to get emergency care so a doctor can rule out more serious conditions.
- The diagnosis is clinical, often supported by brain imaging.
- Older people and those who live with migraine are more likely to experience it.
Some time ago, when I was a resident, a man came into the hospital after participating in a “polar plunge.” This is an event where participants jump into ice-cold water in the middle of winter—and after he came out and toweled off, the people around him noticed some unusual signs.
His behavior was fairly normal, but he was asking the same questions over and over again. If you told him something, he might ask about it again a few minutes later.
That man had transient global amnesia, a short-term neurological condition that prevents you from making new memories. The good news is that it doesn’t cause any lasting long-term problems.
What is it like to have transient global amnesia?
First, there’s a trigger—usually extreme physical or emotional stress. For the man I talked about above, it was the physical stress of jumping into ice-cold water. You might also get it after doing a heavy workout, getting bad news, or even having sexual intercourse.
The only symptom of transient global amnesia is that you can’t make new memories while it’s happening. You’ll still have your important long-term memories—who you are, who your loved ones are, and how to make a cup of tea or drive your car. It’s the people around you who notice you’re not your usual self.
Transient global amnesia resolves without any specific treatment within 24 hours, so you’ll be able to make new memories within a day. However, you still won’t be able to remember what happened during those hours.
What should I do if I think someone has transient global amnesia?
While transient global amnesia itself isn’t dangerous, you still need to take them to get emergency care right away. That’s because memory issues and confusion could instead be a symptom of something more serious, like a stroke, a seizure, or an underlying medical issue that can affect brain function.
The signs of these conditions can be subtle, so it’s important to get emergency care even if you think it’s just transient global amnesia.
What causes transient global amnesia?
The exact causes of transient global amnesia are still mysterious. It’s likely caused by a temporary problem with the hippocampus—the memory center of the brain.
Who is at risk for transient global amnesia?
You’re more at risk for transient global amnesia if you’re 50–70 years old, with people in their 60s being the most likely to experience it. You’re also at higher risk if you experience migraine.
Does transient global amnesia increase the risk of stroke or dementia?
No, transient global amnesia is a one-off event for most people. It doesn’t cause any permanent damage, and it doesn’t put you any more at risk for a future stroke or dementia.
Rachelle Dugue, MD, PhD, is an award-winning neurohospitalist and vascular neurologist at Stanford Health Care and Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley.
-As told to Val Lick
