amnesia

Term: amnesia

Origin: Anc Greek α/α (privative  prefix) + μνήμη/mneme(=memory) -->forgetfulness



Sauvages de la Croix (1706 – 1767)

 Coined: ?
In 1763 amnesias had been already  classified by French physician and botanist Sauvages de la Croix (1706 – 1767) who is credited with establishing the first methodical nosology for diseases.   The oldest description of patients with memory disorders came from Korsakoff (1889).

Greco-Roman
mosaic from Antioch

In Greek mythology Mnemosyne was the personification of memory and remembrance. It was believed that Zeus  with Mnemosyne were the parents of  the nine  Muses who were the inspiration of writers and poets and protectors of art.  







Definition
Loss of memory due to many causes including stroke, encephalitis, injury to the brain, surgery and alcoholism.