Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)/Autoimmune encephalitis refers to a group of conditions that occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells, leading to inflammation of the brain. People with autoimmune encephalitis may have various neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms. Neurologic symptoms may include impaired memory and cognition, abnormal movements, seizures, and/or problems with balance, speech, or vision.[rx][rx] Psychiatric symptoms may … [Read more…]

Anti NMDAR encephalitis is a relatively common autoimmune encephalitis characterized by complex neuropsychiatric features and the presence of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). It is the best known and likely the most common type of immune-mediated limbic encephalitis. Acute or subacute neuropsychiatric … [Read more…]

Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, also known as steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT), is a neurological condition characterized by encephalopathy, thyroid autoimmunity, and good clinical response to corticosteroids. It is associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and was first described in 1966. It is sometimes referred to as a neuroendocrine disorder, although the condition’s relationship to the endocrine system is widely disputed. It is recognized as … [Read more…]

Limbic Encephalitis (LE) is characterized by a rapidly progressive, non-infective inflammation with short-term memory loss, psychiatric symptoms, and seizures.[rx] Limbic encephalitis is a rare, subacute process involving the limbic system and hypothalamus. The term LE described memory loss and dementia in association with bronchial carcinoma.[rx] Initially LE was considered a rare disorder in association with cancer; most commonly associated … [Read more…]

Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis/Limbic Encephalitis (LE) is characterized by a rapidly progressive, non-infective inflammation with short-term memory loss, psychiatric symptoms, and seizures.[rx] Limbic encephalitis is a rare, subacute process involving the limbic system and hypothalamus. The term LE described memory loss and dementia in association with bronchial carcinoma.[rx] Initially LE was considered a rare disorder in association with cancer; most … [Read more…]

Non-Neoplastic Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis/Limbic Encephalitis (LE) is characterized by a rapidly progressive, non-infective inflammation with short-term memory loss, psychiatric symptoms, and seizures.[rx] Limbic encephalitis is a rare, subacute process involving the limbic system and hypothalamus. The term LE described memory loss and dementia in association with bronchial carcinoma.[rx] Initially LE was considered a rare disorder in association with cancer; … [Read more…]

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurologic disorder in which a person presents with visual disturbance, seizure, headaches, and altered mentation. This activity reviews the clinical presentation, etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, differential diagnosis, treatment and management, prognosis, and complications of PRES. This article also highlights the role of the interprofessional team in recognizing and … [Read more…]

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy motor neurons, the cells that control skeletal muscle activity such as walking, breathing, speaking, and swallowing. This group includes diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Kennedy’s disease, and post-polio syndrome. … [Read more…]

The brainstem is the structure that connects the cerebrum of the brain to the spinal cord and cerebellum. It is composed of four sections in descending order: the diencephalon, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It is responsible for many vital functions of life, such as breathing, consciousness, blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep. The brainstem … [Read more…]

12 Cranial Nerves/The cranial nerves provide afferent and efferent (sensory, motor, and autonomic) innervation to the structures of the head and neck. Unlike spinal nerves whose roots are neural fibers from the spinal grey matter, cranial nerves are composed of the neural processes associated with distinct brainstem nuclei and cortical structures. While the spinal grey matter is organized … [Read more…]

The cranial nerves provide afferent and efferent (sensory, motor, and autonomic) innervation to the structures of the head and neck. Unlike spinal nerves whose roots are neural fibers from the spinal grey matter, cranial nerves are composed of the neural processes associated with distinct brainstem nuclei and cortical structures. While the spinal grey matter is organized into a … [Read more…]

The neurological examination is an assessment tool to determine a patient’s neurologic function. It is beneficial in a variety of ways as it allows the localization of neurologic diseases and helps in ruling in or ruling out differential diagnoses. Neurological diseases can present a myriad of ways, including cognitive/behavioral, visual, motor, and sensory symptoms. Certain … [Read more…]