Blog

The Dewees Family is organizing a 5K run to raise awareness for Autoimmune Encephalitis.  March 2019, just one day after turning 13, Luke Dewees was diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis.  The next month was a terrifying and trying time.  Luke spent more than 3 weeks in the hospital battling this rare and evasive disease.  With the […]

Bob Given was diagnosed with CASPR2 encephalitis at the age of 71. Up until that point he was running his CPA firm and was heavily involved in the community. Then suddenly his world was taken from him. Nevertheless, Bob feels he is lucky. Lucky to have been diagnosed quickly, lucky to have received proper treatment. […]

We would like to invite all AE patients to participate in a study which surveys for symptoms following encephalitis. The study is being led by Dr. Venkatesan at Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Dr. Yeshokumar at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. While encephalitis may result in the development of a number of persistent symptoms, […]

A group of researchers from the Autoimmune Neurology Group at the University of Oxford led by Dr. Sarosh Irani,  recently published an article in the Lancet Psychiatry, noting that a focus on the psychopathology is likely the most effective way to promote prompt recognition of NMDAR-antibody encephalitis. NMDAR-antibody encephalitis is an autoantibody-mediated disease that typically presents […]

Texas Children’s Hospital will hold their AE Day of Strength on July 27 in Houston TX and you are invited to join! The AE Day of Strength will allow patients and their families to hear disease updates, discuss coping strategies and connect with other AE families. There will be special activities to honor all siblings. […]

NORD has launched the Rare Caregiver Respite Program, a first-of-its-kind program aimed at providing caregivers of rare disease patients a much-needed respite.  Caring for a loved one with a rare disease demands significant time, attention, patience and dedication. NORD’s Rare Caregiver Respite Program is designed to give back to caregivers—the parent, spouse, family member, or […]

We would like to invite all individuals with a history of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (age 15-60 years at the time of symptom onset) to participate in a study of language. The AE Alliance is honored to be participating in a study led by Dr. Anusha Yekoshumar and medical student Kelsey Martin at The Icahn School […]

AE Alliance is a member of NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Each year they host The Living Rare, Living Stronger NORD Patient and Family forum, a patient focused conference. The 2019 Living Rare, Living Stronger NORD Patient & Family Forum will bring the rare community together with physicians, medical students, and allied health professionals for […]

Psychiatrists play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of AE. As psychiatric symptoms often dominate the symptoms that occur at onset of this disease, patients may present initially to a psychiatrist who are tasked with identifying abnormal features of psychosis presentations, including alterations in mental status, seizures, and dysautonomia, which may prompt consideration […]

On Saturday March 2 the AE Alliance hosted their annual Florence Forth Race. Around 1,000 runners and walkers participated and the weather was just perfect for a run. We are thankful to everyone that supported this great community event; the participants, the 100+ volunteers who made it all possible, those who supported us financially (raising […]