A 'Year of Unraveling': When the Body Turns on the Brain
In a bewildering medical phenomenon, a man from California experienced what he describes as a 'year of unraveling' after his own immune system began attacking his brain. This condition, known as autoimmune encephalitis, occurs when the body's natural defences mistakenly target the organ that makes us who we are.
For Christy Morrill, the first sign that something was terribly wrong emerged after a seemingly normal bike ride with friends. He had stopped for lunch and enjoyed the outing, but when his wife later asked about his day, he had no memory of the event whatsoever. This was just the beginning of a steep decline in his health.
The Bizarre Hijacking of the Mind
Autoimmune diseases can damage various parts of the body, but the hijacking of the brain is one of the most disorienting consequences. Perfectly healthy individuals can suddenly spiral into confusion, experience significant memory loss, suffer seizures, or even develop psychosis. Medical professionals are improving at diagnosing these cases, thanks to the discovery of a growing list of rogue antibodies responsible for the attacks.
With prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment, some patients make a full recovery. However, the path is often complex and uncertain. For Morrill, five years after that initial symptom, he has regained his ability to function in daily life. Yet, he continues to grapple with the loss of decades of personal, autobiographical memories.
The 72-year-old literature major finds himself in a peculiar situation. He can still recall academic facts and figures learned long ago, and he forms new memories every day. However, pivotal moments from his own life remain inaccessible, even when prompted by family photographs.
"I remember 'Ulysses' is published in Paris in 1922 at Sylvia Beach’s bookstore. Why do I remember that, which is of no use to me anymore, and yet I can’t remember my son’s wedding?" Morrill reflects on the cruel selectivity of his condition.
The Path to Diagnosis and Treatment
Autoimmune encephalitis is an umbrella term for a group of brain-inflaming diseases, often identified by the specific rogue antibody that fuels them. Morrill's neurologist ordered specialised testing to investigate his highly unusual memory issues. His wife, Karen, played a crucial role, having suspected he was experiencing subtle seizures. Her observation was confirmed when Morrill had a seizure in front of another doctor, which finally spurred a spinal tap and a definitive diagnosis.
Morrill was found to have LGI1-antibody encephalitis, a type most common in men over the age of 50. His treatment began immediately, involving high-dose steroids to suppress the brain inflammation and an antiseizure medication.
During the most challenging phases of his illness, as delusions set in and gaps in his memory widened, Morrill turned to writing haiku to make sense of the incomprehensible. He wrote of being "unhinged" and "fighting to see light." Months into his treatment, he finally began to sense an improvement, wondering in his poetry if the "meds coursing through me" were truly "dousing the fire." His haiku eventually culminated on a hopeful note: "I can sustain hope."
Today, Morrill still mourns the lost memories of family celebrations and travels. However, he consciously focuses on building new memories with his loved ones and has returned to enjoying the outdoors. "I’m reentering some real time of fun, joy," Morrill said. "I wasn’t shooting for that. I just wanted to be alive."
