Katie Couric, 69, Reveals Her Transient Global Amnesia Scare—What Every Woman Over 50 Should Know

When Katie Couric, 69, couldn’t remember the month, the year or who was president, her husband and doctors feared the worst: a stroke. What the beloved journalist actually experienced was something few people have heard of—but every woman in midlife should understand: a type of sudden, temporary memory loss known as transient global amnesia (TGA).

In a Substack post shared July 6, Couric opened up about the frightening episode that erased several hours of her memory. “It was Saturday, June 27, 2026. But when I was asked the month, the year and who was president, I got them wrong,” Couric wrote. “I wasn’t sure of the month. I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president. Let me explain.”

Katie Couric’s experience with transient global amnesia

The last thing Couric remembers is heading to the Aspen Institute with her husband, John Molner, 63. She had spoken on two panels that day, but doesn’t recall either.

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Molner filled in the gaps. An intern tracked him down after the panels to say Couric was feeling dizzy and “out of it.” They headed to Aspen Valley Hospital, where she struggled to answer basic questions—including the current month, year and even the names of her grandchildren.

“The doctor turned to the nurses and said, ‘Initiate stroke protocol,'” Molner recalled in the blog post. An MRI confirmed Couric had not suffered a stroke. But her brain fog worsened. “She reintroduced herself to the nurses every time they came into the room,” Molner wrote.

The diagnosis: transient global amnesia, a sudden episode of confusion and memory loss with an unknown cause, according to the Mayo Clinic. Couric was admitted for the evening and began returning to normal cognition around 9 p.m. “While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious,” Couric wrote. “So ultimately, I’m relieved—even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”

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What is transient global amnesia?

Neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, broke down the condition in a follow-up interview with Katie Couric Media on July 7.

“TGA is a sudden, temporary loss of the ability to form new memories,” he explained. “A person is awake, alert, knows who they are, recognizes family members, and can carry on a conversation, but they can’t remember what just happened a few minutes ago. They often ask the same questions repeatedly, such as, ‘Where are we?’ or ‘How did I get here?’ because each answer is quickly forgotten. In fact, this constant repetition of the same question is a symptom I have observed in every patient with this disorder I have ever treated.”

Why TGA happens—and who’s most at risk

Transient global amnesia episodes are “often preceded by a sudden physical or emotional stress,” Dr. Perlmutter said, such as “vigorous exercise, heavy lifting, emotional shock, pain, sexual activity, coughing or straining.”

In rare cases, sudden immersion in cold water can trigger an episode. “Neurologists have recognized for years that diving into very cold water or experiencing an abrupt temperature change can occasionally precipitate an episode of transient global amnesia,” he explained.

Here’s the part every woman over 50 needs to hear: TGA most commonly affects adults between 50 and 80. That’s exactly why Couric’s story matters so much for our readers. Knowing the signs could help you—or someone you love—get the right care fast.

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What to do if you suspect transient global amnesia

Dr. Perlmutter urges anyone who witnesses these symptoms to seek emergency care right away so a stroke, seizure or other serious cause can be ruled out.

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“While you’re waiting for help, stay calm and reassure the person. They may ask the same questions over and over again because they simply can’t retain the answers,” he said. “That’s actually a good thing because it helps confirm the diagnosis. And don’t expect them to remember what you’ve just told them. … Most people quickly return to their normal baseline, with the only lasting effect being that they never remember the hours during which the episode occurred.”

The good news? While transient global amnesia is unsettling to experience, it typically resolves on its own with no lasting consequences.

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