When your body's immune system attacks healthy brain cells, you may have autoimmune encephalitis. This condition causes the tissue of the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. We diagnose encephalitis and related conditions using a variety of methods: Blood tests to see if you have a bacterial or viral infection.
There are many autoimmune disorders that affect the brain, nerves, and muscles—the most common of which is multiple sclerosis. In MS, the immune system attacks myelin, which lines our nerve cells and helps signals transmit quickly from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of our body's nerves and muscles.
In some individuals, common infections can trigger an abnormal autoimmune response, whereby antibodies produced to destroy a harmful pathogen (i.e., bacteria, virus), mistakenly attack healthy cells in the brain. This can cause inflammation in the brain and result in an onset of various neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Autoimmune diseases, like lupus, hypothyroidism, and Type 1 diabetes, have been linked to mental health disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder. If you have an autoimmune disorder and think you may also have symptoms of a mental health condition, you are not alone.
Some common autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes mellitus, are relatively easy to diagnose, while others, such as vasculitis, Addison's disease, lupus, and other rheumatic diseases, are more difficult.
1. Headache. Headaches are one of the most common neurological disorders—and there are a variety of different kinds of headaches, such as migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.
Autoimmune Encephalitis
We diagnose encephalitis and related conditions using a variety of methods: Blood tests to see if you have a bacterial or viral infection. Brain imaging scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or electroencephalogram (EEG)
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. Myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord. When both the brain and the spinal cord are involved, the condition is called encephalomyelitis. Infections and other disorders affecting the brain and spinal cord can activate the immune system, which leads to inflammation.
They include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), among many others. They're most often slowly progressive and interfere with thought, memory, movement or some combination of these things. They're more common in the elderly.
Our brain, spinal cord and nerves are the main components of the nervous system. But if this system is not working in a coordinated way, neurological symptoms arise. Common signs of a problem are headaches, blurry vision, fatigue, numbness in the legs or arms, tremors, and slurred speech.
Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases
Several autoimmune diseases have symptoms that mimic those of MS. An autoimmune disease is one in which your immune system attacks your body's tissues and organs. One of the more common autoimmune conditions is lupus.
“There's usually no single test to diagnose autoimmune disease. You have to have certain symptoms combined with specific blood markers and in some cases, even a tissue biopsy.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Based on research to date, having RA may decrease life expectancy by a decade or more. RA is one of a number of autoimmune disorders called rheumatic diseases, or musculoskeletal conditions marked by inflammation.
Diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are complex and serious. Although there are no cures for these diseases, many of their symptoms can be treated, and sometimes they go into remission.
Amyloidosis (am-uh-loi-DO-sis) is a rare disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs. This amyloid buildup can make the organs not work properly. Organs that may be affected include the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is another autoimmune disease known to have neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction, and psychosis with a prevalence of 21–95% of patients.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is another autoimmune disease known to have a high degree of neuropsychiatric problems, such as depression and anxiety, occurring in between 21 and 95% of patients (41).
But it's theorized that persistent stress (such as worry about finances, mental or physical health, or interpersonal relationships) could lead to chronic disease such as high blood pressure or autoimmune disease. What causes stress for a person is highly individual. A common example is having to speak in public.