Florida Health reports that almost 18,922 hospitalizations for non-fatal traumatic brain injuries occurred in 2012. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause lasting damage to the brain, even after relatively minor brain injuries. One symptom of a TBI which can last for months, years or indefinitely after an injury is loss of memory.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders indicates that memory loss is the most common cognitive side effect that occurs among brain injury sufferers. The formation of memories relies on the activation system; limbic system; and cortical system. If damage to the brain impacts the brainstem; amygdala; basal ganglia; hippocampus; or any other part of the brain which plays a role in memory creation or accessing memories, memory loss may occur.
A TBI victim may suffer transient memory loss during which the brain is temporarily unable to encode and store new information. Post-traumatic amnesia is an example of transient memory loss. Permanent memory disruption can also result from head trauma. Permanent impairment can impact a person’s ability to work or engage in routine daily activities.
Memory loss from TBI can impact a victim decades after the initial injury. Rehabilitation can sometimes help to restore memory, but not very victim is able to fully recover lost memories or regain the ability to easily make new memories.
If a brain injury causes memory loss, victims should be compensated for this lasting impairment if someone else was responsible for causing the brain injury to occur. A Florida brain injury lawyer can provide assistance to victims in pursuing a claim for damages caused by the traumatic brain injury.