Next Article in Journal
Mutations and Protein Interaction Landscape Reveal Key Cellular Events Perturbed in Upper Motor Neurons with HSP and PLS
Next Article in Special Issue
Risk of Developing Epilepsy after Autoimmune Encephalitis
Previous Article in Journal
Preventive Intervention Program on the Outcomes of Very Preterm Infants and Caregivers: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Previous Article in Special Issue
Prevalence of Neural Autoantibodies in Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Neuropsychological Evaluations in Limbic Encephalitis

by
Juri-Alexander Witt
* and
Christoph Helmstaedter
Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050576
Submission received: 12 April 2021 / Revised: 27 April 2021 / Accepted: 27 April 2021 / Published: 29 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Immune System, Neuroinflammation and Epilepsy)

Abstract

Limbic encephalitis (LE) can cause dynamic and permanent impairment of cognition and behavior. In clinical practice, the question arises as to which cognitive and behavioral domains are affected by LE and which assessment is suited to monitor the disease progress and the success of treatment. Current findings on cognition and behavior in LE are reviewed and discussed based on current guidelines and consensus papers. In addition, we outline approaches for the neuropsychological monitoring of LE and its treatment. Dependent on disease acuity and severity, LE leads to episodic long-term memory dysfunction in different variants (e.g., anterograde memory impairment, accelerated long-term forgetting, and affection of autobiographical memory) and executive deficits. In addition, affective disorders are very common. More severe psychiatric symptoms may occur as well. In the course of the disease, dynamic phases with functional recovery must be differentiated from residual defect states. Evidence-based neuropsychological diagnostics should be conducted ideally before treatment initiation and reassessments are indicated when any progress is suggested, and when decisive anti-seizure or immunomodulatory treatment changes are made. Cognition and behavior may but must not run in synchrony with seizures, MRI pathology, or immune parameters. Cognitive and behavioral problems are integral aspects of LE and represent important biomarkers of disease acuity, progress, and therapy response beyond and in addition to parameters of immunology, neurological symptoms, and brain imaging. Thus, evidence-based neuropsychological assessments are essential for the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected or diagnosed limbic encephalitis, for treatment decisions, and disease and treatment monitoring.
Keywords: limbic encephalitis; autoimmune epilepsy; neuropsychology; cognition; behavior; monitoring; assessment; diagnostics; memory; auto-antibodies limbic encephalitis; autoimmune epilepsy; neuropsychology; cognition; behavior; monitoring; assessment; diagnostics; memory; auto-antibodies

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Witt, J.-A.; Helmstaedter, C. Neuropsychological Evaluations in Limbic Encephalitis. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 576. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050576

AMA Style

Witt J-A, Helmstaedter C. Neuropsychological Evaluations in Limbic Encephalitis. Brain Sciences. 2021; 11(5):576. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050576

Chicago/Turabian Style

Witt, Juri-Alexander, and Christoph Helmstaedter. 2021. "Neuropsychological Evaluations in Limbic Encephalitis" Brain Sciences 11, no. 5: 576. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050576

APA Style

Witt, J.-A., & Helmstaedter, C. (2021). Neuropsychological Evaluations in Limbic Encephalitis. Brain Sciences, 11(5), 576. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050576

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop