Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a form of brain inflammation in which the immune system makes antibodies against the NMDA receptor, a protein nerve cells use to communicate, predominantly targeting a piece of it called the GluN1 subunit. This is thought to impair glutamate signaling between neurons and produces a mix of psychiatric and neurological symptoms. It can appear on its own or alongside a tumor, most often an ovarian teratoma in women of childbearing age, though it also occurs in men and children without an identifiable tumor.

It's considered the most common cause of autoimmune encephalitis after acute demyelinating encephalitis, and research describes it as predominantly affecting young adults and children with a clear female predominance. It's rare and was only characterized in the literature about fifteen years ago, so comprehensive prevalence data remain limited.

Common signs

Often a prodrome of headache or flu-like symptoms, followed within days to weeks by psychiatric changes such as anxiety, agitation, psychosis, or unusual behavior, then memory and speech problems, seizures, abnormal movements, reduced responsiveness, and instability of heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, with breathing trouble in more severe cases.

This is a plain-language summary for orientation, not a diagnosis. Mechanisms are described as current understanding, not settled fact. Work with your own clinician for your care.