Autoimmune Encephalitis

Is testing right for you?
testing for Autoimmune Encephalitis
Infections ignite autoimmune response

Autoimmune encephalitis targets the basal ganglia

In some cases, infections can trigger a type of autoimmune encephalitis that targets the basal ganglia region of the brain. This can lead to a range of movement, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive symptoms – which are often treatment-resistant.

Patients with this form of autoimmune encephalitis (sometimes referred to as basal ganglia encephalitis) may suddenly develop tics, seizure-like movements, OCD behaviors or severe mood swings.) Unfortunately, the underlying autoimmune cause often goes unrecognized, and many are misdiagnosed with a primary neuropsychiatric illness, delaying effective treatment.

Identifying autoimmune activity affecting the brain

With the Autoimmune Brain Panel™

The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ (formerly the Cunningham Panel™) is a specialized test designed to detect whether a patient with neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms may be suffering from a type of autoimmune encephalitis that targets the basal ganglia region of the brain.

The Panel includes 5 blood tests which assist clinicians in diagnosing and treating patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms potentially caused by an abnormal immune response. Elevated results suggest that the patient’s symptoms may be linked to an autoimmune dysfunction, rather than a primary neurologic or psychiatric disorder.

Autoimmune Brain Panel
Is the immune system impacting the brain?

Dr. Tania Dempsey talks about which patients might benefit from testing and how the Panel can provide valuable insights for guiding treatment.

(Note: The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ is known formerly as the Cunningham Panel™)

Are you a good candidate for testing?
The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ may be helpful if:
Leading to Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
You're experiencing:
  • Multiple neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms
  • Sudden or dramatic behavior changes
  • Tics, OCD, anxiety, depression, or mood swings
  • Brain fog, fatigue, or cognitive issues
  • Seizures without a known cause
Presence of infection
Your symptoms began or worsened after:
  • A known or suspected infection (i.e., strep, Mycoplasma, EBV, Lyme)
You've tried typical treatments
You've tried typical treatments
(SSRIs, anti-seizure or ADHD meds, etc.) and:
  • They didn’t work,
  • They made symptoms worse, or
  • You feel like they’re only addressing the surface—not the root cause
There’s a personal or family history of autoimmune disorders
(i.e., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis)
You’ve visited multiple clinicians with minimal or no symptom resolution.
What the Test Could Reveal
Brain on Fire
Whether there are elevated levels of autoantibodies targeting specific receptors and cells in the brain
Suggesting you may have a type of autoimmune encephalitis that targets the basal ganglia
Active Infection
The likelihood of an active infection or reinfection.
If positive, test results may support a different treatment direction:
  • Immunomodulatory therapy (i.e., antibiotics for infections, anti-inflammatories, steroids, IVIG, plasmapheresis etc.)
  • Focused workup for autoimmune encephalitis or neuroinflammation
Strep Infection Triggers Immune System to Attack the Brain

Grace’s personality changed almost overnight. She developed OCD, anxiety, mood swings and was prone to uncontrollable rages. The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ uncovered the reason—an infection-driven autoimmune dysfunction.

(Note: The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ is known formerly as the Cunningham Panel™)

Which symptoms are most often linked with the Panel?
Each target in the Autoimmune Brain Panel™ is associated with various neurologic and psychiatric symptoms.1 These include abnormal movements (tics, tremors), cognitive issues (OCD, brain fog) and mood disturbances (anxiety, depression).
Dopamine D1 Receptor Antibodies
Dopamine D1 Receptor Antibodies

Individuals with elevated levels of autoantibodies against Dopamine D1 receptor typically experienced psychiatric symptoms, including psychosis. Other symptoms included: mood dysregulation, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, aggression and rage behavior.

Dopamine D2 Receptor Antibodies

Individuals with elevated levels of autoantibodies against Dopamine D2 receptor typically experienced movement disorders and impulsivity. Other symptoms included: chorea, chorea form movements, hyperactivity, tremors and involuntary movements.

Lysoganglioside GM1 Antibodies

Individuals with elevated levels of autoantibodies against Lysoganglioside GM1 typically experienced neuropathic symptoms, including tics. Other symptoms included: neuropathy, joint pain, connective tissue problems, tics and headaches.

Tubulin Antibodies

Individuals with elevated levels of autoantibodies against Tubulin typically experienced cognitive complaints, OCD and brain fog. Other symptoms included: poor concentration and memory problems.

CaMKII – A Cell Stimulation Assay

Individuals with elevated CaMKII levels were often positive with involuntary movements and any symptom of adrenergic activation. Other symptoms included: fight or flight behaviors, sensory abnormalities, fatigue, sleep disturbance, mood instability, enuresis and mydriasis.

  1. Moleculera Biosciences Clinical Laboratory Patient Population Analysis.
Getting to the root:
Immune dysfunction leads to psychiatric and neurologic symptoms

Dr. Craig Shimasaki reviews with case of a 16-year-old girl with severe OCD, tics, cognitive difficulties and mood swings whose symptoms resolved after proper diagnosis and treatment.

Autoimmune Encephalitis - Brain Panel Testing

Only Test of Its Kind

Getting to the root cause - Autoimmune Brain Panel™

For patients who have been chronically ill and searching for answers, the Autoimmune Brain Panel™ is offering new hope—transforming care, guiding treatment and making recovery possible.

It is the only test of its kind that assists clinicians in identifying and treating patients with neurologic and psychiatric symptoms caused by an infection-triggered autoimmune dysfunction.

Testing is simple. And involves a single blood draw.

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