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Retrograde amnesia is a memory disorder characterized by the loss of memories for events that occurred before a causative event, such as a brain injury or stroke. Unlike anterograde amnesia, which affects the ability to form new memories, retrograde amnesia impacts recall of past experiences.1

This type of amnesia is often attributed to a failure in memory retrieval rather than registration, though recent memories are typically harder to access than older ones due to consolidation. The availability of memories can also depend on their relevance to a person's current interests. While often associated with brain damage, dissociative amnesia is a psychological form where memories are not lost but are inaccessible due to emotional distress.21

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