Veteran journalist Katie Couric has shared details of a frightening health episode after experiencing transient global amnesia (TGA), a rare condition that causes sudden, temporary memory loss.

In a personal essay published on her Substack, the 69-year-old said the episode occurred while attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, leaving her unable to remember several hours of her day.

A sudden loss of memory

Couric recalled becoming confused about basic details, including the current year and who was serving as U.S. president. She also struggled to remember recent events and later realized she had no memory of moderating panels she was scheduled to lead that day.

Despite speaking publicly at the festival, she said she cannot recall the discussions or the people she met during those appearances.

Husband noticed something was wrong

Couric’s husband, John Molner, said he initially believed she might be suffering from dehydration or altitude sickness because of Aspen’s high elevation.

After event staff noticed she wasn’t feeling well, she was evaluated by medical professionals and taken to a nearby hospital for further testing.

Doctors ruled out a stroke

At the hospital, doctors performed an MRI to determine whether Couric had suffered a stroke. The scan showed no evidence of a stroke, and physicians instead diagnosed her with transient global amnesia.

According to the Mayo Clinic, TGA is a temporary episode of sudden memory loss that is not caused by epilepsy or a stroke. During an episode, people may repeatedly ask questions, struggle to form new memories and become disoriented, but the condition typically resolves within 24 hours.

Memory returned the next day

Couric said doctors assured her that her memory would likely return to normal, and by the following day it had.

Although she recovered fully, she said several hours from that day remain permanently missing from her memory.

A reminder not to ignore unusual symptoms

Couric described the experience as unsettling but said she feels fortunate the episode was not caused by a more serious neurological condition.

Health experts advise anyone experiencing sudden confusion or memory loss to seek immediate medical attention, as symptoms can resemble those of a stroke and require prompt evaluation.