Yes, concussions can cause memory loss. Head injuries can cause loss of memory surrounding the event itself or recurring memory loss after the injury. Severe memory loss (completely forgetting an event or the people you spoke with, even though you were present) is rare for concussion, but it can happen. It’s more common to have that kind of memory loss with a severe TBI. For most concussion patients, memory loss involves difficulty remembering smaller things such as what to buy at the grocery store, what someone just told them, or the information for an upcoming test. That often means needing to write things down and rely heavily on calendars. Contrary to popular belief, loss of consciousness at the time of the injury does not make you more or less likely to have lasting memory loss or other concussion symptoms. In reality, mental confusion (disorientation) puts you at greater risk for lasting symptoms. It doesn’t matter whether you sustained your concussion (otherwise known as a mild traumatic brain injury, or mTBI) playing contact sports, in a motor vehicle accident, tripping down the stairs, or any other scenario you can imagine — any head trauma puts you at risk for brain damage that can cause memory loss.