Chapter 118

Miles was not convinced at all, he didn't like the fact that the moment his brother woke up, he couldn't be his self.

The brothers stood up dejectedly and walked out of the lab the same way they had come, but Peter didn't leave immediately, he sat while Paul and Miles walked out, he still needed some clarifications.

"Please doctor, tell me more, I need to know all about this retrograde Amnesia.

Doctor Raji could tell that the family was worried, but he was sure that they would smile at last, if only they would be patient for him and his team, but they seemed to be in a hurry.

Doctor Raji then took a deep breath and sigh out loud, before he started talking.

Retrograde amnesia is usually temporally graded, which means that your most recent memories are affected first and your oldest memories are usually spared. This is known as Ribot’s law.

The extent of retrograde amnesia can vary significantly. Some people may only lose memories from the year or two prior to having the injury or disease.

Other people may lose decades of memories. But even when people lose decades, they typically hang on to memories from childhood and adolescence.

This is why Andrew can remember his mother, and some things that happened in his early years as a child, but that doesn't mean he won't remember his present life, it just that it might take time, with great help and assistance.

Though I already explained to your father about the expectant symptoms, I will still brief you on them.

not remembering things that happened before the onset of amnesia.

Most of the activities of before, like his wife and child or children may not be remembered now, but being around him most of the time would help him remember.

forgetting names, people, faces, places, facts, and general knowledge from before the onset of amnesia.

He could end up not remembering your faces, when this happens, please do not push it, just be with him and show him love, gradually, he will remember.

Peter couldn't see the possibility, but he was going to listen and try his best.

remembering skills like riding a bike, playing the piano, and driving a car

retaining older memories, especially from childhood and adolescence

Someone with this condition may or may not be able to make new memories and learn new skills.

He may not be able to do new things, so I will advise that he is encouraged in the old skill and watch him make his mistakes and errors in his old skill. Though he may not make any errors because he would be conversant with it.

There is another, called,

Focal retrograde amnesia.

Focal retrograde amnesia, also known as isolated or pure retrograde amnesia, is when someone only experiences retrograde amnesia with few or no symptoms of anterograde amnesia.

This means that the ability to form new memories is left intact. This isolated memory loss doesn’t affect a person’s intelligence or ability to learn new skills, like playing the piano.

Dissociative (psychogenic) amnesia

This is a rare type of retrograde amnesia resulting from an emotional shock. It’s not caused by damage to the brain, like other types of retrograde amnesia. It’s purely a psychological response to trauma. It’s often caused by a violent crime or other violent trauma and is usually only temporary. Symptoms include:

being unable to remember things that happened before a traumatic event

possibly being unable to recall autobiographical information

What conditions cause retrograde amnesia?

Retrograde amnesia can result from damage to different parts of the brain responsible for controlling emotions and memories. These include the thalamus, which is deep in the center of the brain, and the hippocampus, which is in the temporal lobe.

There are several conditions that can cause retrograde amnesia. These include:

Traumatic brain injury

Most traumatic brain injuries are mild, resulting in concussion.                                  But a severe injury, like a serious blow to the head, can damage the memory-storing areas of the brain and lead to retrograde amnesia. Depending on the level of damage,                the amnesia could be temporary or permanent. 

Already your brother was traumatized before the accident, I learnt from your father that he was diagnosed with HIV,                                     I was shocked though, because I had another test done on him and he turned     out to be negative.                                               I had told him already that he is negative, but,  he seems to doubt. Though I don't know the doctor who gave such a report, but I want to know that doctor, I don't want to believe that an Anderson would go to an unqualified doctor.                                                                     though that aside, as regards retrograde Amnesia, there is the Thiamine deficiency

Thiamine deficiency, which is typically caused by chronic alcohol misuse or serious malnutrition, can lead to a condition called Wernicke encephalopathy. If left untreated, Wernicke encephalopathy progresses into a condition called Korsakoff psychosis, which presents with both anterograde and retrograde amnesia.                                     This can not be the case of your brother, because there was no trace of excess alcohol in his system, but when I learnt that he had been told he had HIV, my team decided to check it out, to know if frustration had led him to it. 

Peter once again felt like strangling Joseph, he didn't want to interrupt the doctor, he was really worried for his brother, seeing him open his eyes and not say much, then when he did say, it had been like he was out from this world, Peter needed more.

Because, the symptoms if a vitamin B deficiency are: Encephalitis.

Encephalitis is inflammation in the brain caused by a viral infection, such as herpes simplex. It can also be caused by a cancer-related or non-cancer-related autoimmune reaction. This inflammation can cause damage to the memory-storing parts of the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative dementias can lead to progressively worsening retrograde amnesia. There is currently no cure.

Doctor Raji had given him more than he asked for, but now comes the question he has in mind.

If there was a cure for retrograde Amnesia.

He took a look at the doctor, he wasn't interested in the long grammar, he only wanted to know the cure and what they could do to help, money wasn't the problem, but now even their money wasn't coming to play.