NMDAR-antibody encephalitis
Personalising treatments to help fight this brain disease
NMDAR-antibody encephalitis (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis) is a rare but devastating type of brain inflammation that mainly affects children and young adults.
Symptoms are rapidly progressive and include loss of speech, seizures, confusion, memory loss, behavioural changes and abnormal movements.
Thankfully, most children will survive after prompt treatment with immune-dampening drugs, but their recovery will usually be slow, and they may face long-lasting difficulties – which can seriously impact on their education, employment and quality of life.
That's why we're funding research, led by Dr Michael Eyre at King’s College London, that could unlock the best treatments for children fighting this cruel disease.
Dr Eyre and his team aim to develop cutting-edge scanning techniques to measure changes in the structure, function and chemistry of the brains of children who are in early recovery from NMDAR-antibody encephalitis compared with healthy children.
The team hopes this insight will shape larger studies aimed at personalising treatment for children – as well as supporting future trials of new treatments that could significantly improve the outlook for children with this devastating condition.
We hope our results will ultimately help doctors select the best treatment for each child, improving the chances of controlling their symptoms sooner, shortening hospital stays and reducing the long-term effects on their lives.
TOGETHER WE CAN HELP FIGHT THIS DISEASE
Up to £10,000 of donations will be matched by an existing supporter – doubling the impact of your gift!