Imagine your body's defence system turning against your own brain, causing inflammation that can trigger psychosis, seizures, and memory loss. This is the frightening reality of autoimmune encephalitis, a serious condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells.
What is Autoimmune Encephalitis?
Autoimmune encephalitis represents a group of conditions where the body's immune system, which normally fights infections, begins attacking the brain. This leads to inflammation that can cause rapid changes in both mental and neurological function. Unlike traditional encephalitis caused by viruses or bacteria, this version stems from the body's own defences going haywire.
Dr Sarosh Irani, a leading researcher in autoimmune neurology at Oxford University, explains the gravity of the situation: "We are seeing that these diseases are much more common than we ever anticipated". His work at the Autoimmune Neurology Group has been crucial in advancing understanding of these complex conditions.
Recognising the Symptoms
The symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis can be diverse and often mimic other psychiatric and neurological disorders. Patients may experience sudden behavioural changes, confusion, memory problems, seizures, movement disorders, or even fall into a coma. These symptoms typically develop over days or weeks rather than months.
What makes diagnosis particularly challenging is how these conditions can be mistaken for more common disorders. Many patients are initially misdiagnosed with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, delaying appropriate treatment. The inflammation in the brain can create symptoms indistinguishable from primary psychiatric illness.
Diagnosis and Treatment Advances
Diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis requires specific antibody tests, often through blood or spinal fluid samples. Identifying the particular antibodies involved helps determine the most effective treatment approach. Common treatments include immunotherapy such as steroids, plasma exchange, or medications that suppress the overactive immune response.
Research led by Dr Irani and his team has identified several novel antibodies associated with different forms of the disease. Their work has revealed that specific antibodies target particular proteins in the brain, leading to distinct symptom patterns. This growing understanding allows for more targeted treatments and better outcomes.
While autoimmune encephalitis was once considered extremely rare, increasing awareness and improved testing methods have shown it to be more common than previously thought. The condition can affect people of any age, from children to older adults, though some forms show particular age preferences.
Recovery varies significantly between patients. Some make a full recovery with prompt treatment, while others may experience lingering symptoms or require ongoing management. Early diagnosis and treatment remain crucial for the best possible outcomes.
