World Encephalitis Day occurs every February 22nd to raise global awareness for those who have been affected by encephalitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the brain. This inflammation can stem from various causes such as infections, autoimmune reactions, and more. For our purposes, we will focus on autoimmune encephalitis, which occurs when the immune system attacks healthy brain cells, resulting in neurological or psychiatric impairments.
There are various types of autoimmune encephalitis such as anti-NMDAR encephalitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), anti-GAD65 autoimmune encephalitis, and more. The most common symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis present as memory loss, psychosis, altered mental status, or seizures. Unfortunately, the reporting of autoimmune encephalitis in epidemiological data is limited due to its varying presentation and the various antibodies involved. However, anti-NMDAR encephalitis is the most commonly reported in which this disease is mostly seen in women, with a female-to-male ratio of approximately 8:2.
Receiving an autoimmune encephalitis diagnosis can result in a long and frustrating journey of learning how to handle symptoms. However, World Encephalitis Day reminds us of the perseverance of those diagnosed with encephalitis. Our Director of Patient Partnerships, Reggie Barnes, was diagnosed with anti-GAD65 autoimmune encephalitis and understands the difficulty of living with this condition. Click here to read his story and learn more about our collaboration with Encephalitis411.
To support the Autoimmune Registry, please join our registry or share it with a friend who has an autoimmune condition. Donations are also greatly appreciated!
