Don’t Be Left Behind. Keep Up With THE HERD!
Supportive assistance guide for your AE Journey~
August 2023 2nd Edition
In this Issue~
- *Children’s Corner (for all ages): Retrospective Comparison of Patients Evaluated for Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis with Typical and Atypical Premorbid Neuropsychiatric Development, How to Make a Glitter Jar
- *ABI Rehabilitation: Today I Will Do My “Some” Coloring Page
- *Helpful Tips for the AE Warrior: HealthWell’s Pediatric Assistance Fund
- *Most Popular Visuals: Seizure Types & Symptoms, What is Retrograde Amnesia?
- *Featured AE Article: Emotional Recognition after Brain Injury
- *Video: Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis: clinical characteristics and factors associated with outcomes
- *Clinician’s Corner: MR Imaging Findings in a Large Population of Autoimmune Encephalitis
- *Open Access: Immune Mechanisms in Epileptogenesis: Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Epilepsy Syndromes
- *Monthly Zoom Support Groups for Patients & Caregivers: Caregiver Monthly Zoom Support Group, #AETuesdayTries for patients and caregivers
- *AE Studies & Clinical Trial: What is a Clinical Trial Video, Cielo Clinical Trial to Compare Satralizumab with placebo in anti-NMDAr and LGI1 patients, The IGNITE Study, The ExTINGUISH Trial
- *AE Trivia Cards: The Single Most Important Educational/Rehabilitation Tool for AE
- *AE Warrior Store: Shop for AE Bling and Raise Awareness. Check out our new arrivals
- *Shop & Support IAES: Sign up for PayPal’s #GiveAtCheckOut
Children’s Corner
Retrospective Comparison of Patients Evaluated for Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis with Typical and Atypical Premorbid Neuropsychiatric Development
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) children with AE had a comparable number of reported clinical domains relative to typical development (TD) children and a similar treatment response. NDD patients with AE had a greater number of reported clinical domains than their NDD peers without an AE diagnosis. These findings suggest that AE is a multi-domain process in both TD and NDD children.
How to Make a Glitter Jar
There are three benefits of mindfulness for kids. Studies show that the benefits of mindfulness for kids may include:
1. Increased focus, attention, self-control, classroom participation, and compassion.
2. Improved academic performance, ability to resolve conflict and overall well-being.
3. Decreased levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior.
Other helpful exercises for children are found on the Children’s Corner webpage under the ‘For Patients’ tab on the IAES website.
ABI Rehabilitation From AE
Today I Will Do My “Some” Coloring Page Search
This coloring page is dedicated to AE Warrior Kerry Jones who came up with this quote. Being realistic about your goals and the speed in which you reach them is key to success. Take things one step at a time. Each day all you have to do is “some”. As you do it will grow to more and you will advance forward in reclaiming your life. This is true for caregivers too.
Art therapy addresses cognitive skills, attention, organization, and fine motor skills and has been shown to decrease stress and improve mindfulness. It’s a wonderful way to re-learn and re-train your brain from the brain injury caused by AE.
Helpful Tips for Patients & Families
HealthWell’s Pediatric Assistance Fund
If you live in the USA, HealthWell assists individuals with incomes up to 400-500% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Foundation also considers the number in a household and the cost of living in a particular city or state.
To qualify for assistance from HealthWell, you must have some form of health insurance (private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, etc.) that covers part of the cost of your treatment. The Foundation will refer patients without prescription insurance to other programs, such as manufacturer patient assistance programs.
Can only assist with medications that have been prescribed to treat the disease/covered diagnosis.
Most Popular Visuals
Seizure Types & Symptoms
What is Retrograde Amnesia?
Featured AE Article
Emotional Recognition after Brain Injury
Recognizing others’ emotions after a brain injury can be an issue that some individuals may experience. Much of communication with others is non-verbal, being unable to recognize non-verbal cues from other individuals can impact a person’s ability to communicate effectively with others. This handout explains how to identify this issue and how to provide awareness to the individual with brain injury as to how they can identify others’ feelings and respond to them appropriately.
Video
Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis: clinical characteristics and factors associated with outcomes
Playing time: 6 min. 45 sec.
Lee et al. examine clinical characteristics and disease course, effectiveness of immunotherapy, and prognostic factors in patients with seronegative autoimmune encephalitis. Combination immunotherapy with steroids, immunoglobulin, rituximab, and tocilizumab was associated with improved outcomes.
Clinician’s Corner
MR Imaging Findings in a Large Population of Autoimmune Encephalitis
CONCLUSIONS: Sixty-one percent of patients with autoimmune encephalitis had abnormal brain MR imaging findings at symptom onset, most commonly involving the limbic system. Susceptibility artifact is rare and makes autoimmune encephalitis less likely as a diagnosis. Brainstem and cerebellar involvement were more common in group 1, while leptomeningeal enhancement was more common in group 2.
Open Access
Immune Mechanisms in Epileptogenesis: Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Epilepsy Syndromes
Key Points:
Identifying immune-mediated seizures is a key challenge in clinical practice. |
Antiseizure medications (ASMs) often fail to stop immune-mediated seizures and are usually used for symptomatic control. However, once the underlying immune-mediated mechanism is correctly identified and treated, seizures often subside. |
Novel immunomodulatory treatments are emerging as we gain more insight into immunopathophysiology. These therapies show promising effects and rapid initiation of immunomodualtion in immune-mediated seizures is crucial for outcome. |
Monthly Zoom Support Groups For Patients and Caregivers
Caregiver Monthly Zoom Support Group
The next monthly meeting will take place on September 14th at 6 pm PST/9 pm EST. The IAES Caregiver Support Group takes place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. This is a ‘safe space’ where caregivers can build relationships/friendships with others who are “walking that walk”, share/vent, and receive the support and direction they so richly deserve.
AE Caregivers have a variety of unique challenges that are different from the AE Warrior’s. Often they feel alone and need to be able to share their concerns with others who are on that same journey. Sometimes hearing a chorus of ‘Me Too!’ can have great healing power of its own. Additionally, some of you may qualify for services you are unaware of that could assist or solve a challenge you (or your loved one) are having. As topics are discussed, your hostess, Mari Davis, will direct you to available solutions, services and supports.
Your Hostess, IAES Support Services Coordinator Mari Wagner Davis, has 30 years of experience as an accredited Nurse Case Manager. Mari’s professional career prior to becoming ill with Autoimmune Encephalitis was to locate and arrange for the support services needed for patients when released from the hospital to rehabilitation or home.
#AETuesdayTries
The next monthly #AETuesdayTries Zoom meet-up will take place on August 29th, and will always be the last Tuesday of each month.
“Tuesday Tries” addresses the emotional support and rehabilitation AE patients and caregivers require in recovering from autoimmune encephalitis by building your resilience. The program utilizes science-based exercises from the work of PERMA; Seligman, 2012.
IAES wants to foster your capacity in the belief that better days are ahead! “Tuesday Tries” is about practicing a strengths-based approach by “normalizing the try;” celebrating critical milestones in the recovery and care of AE patients and caregivers in order to build a more resilient network of care.
A workbook organizer, “Growing Your Resilience” has been created to accompany the #AETuesdayTries program and is located on the ‘Apps and Tools for AE Warriors’ page in the section: ‘Building Your Resilience’ on the IAES website under the ‘For Patients’ tab. A link to download the organizer is also provided within your e-mail confirmation when you register.
Join AE patients and caregivers of all ages and stages in their AE journey. Receive insights and encouragement from others and celebrate your critical milestones in recovery and care while building a more resilient personal AE network!
Your facilitator, Tessa McKenzie, IAES’ Chief Resilience Officer, is a life coach and studies “resilience” through her private practice, Envisage Vocation Creation and work with Johns Hopkins University’s Life Design Lab. Join Tessa and other AE patients and caregivers who are ready to “Share Your Try Tuesdays”. Tessa will provide prompts for the reframe of perceived failures as well as peer-to-peer validation of “wins” and opportunities for relationship building.
AE Studies and Clinical Trials
What Is A Clinical Trial (5-Minutes)
Cielo Clinical Trial to Compare Satralizumab with placebo in anti-NMDAr and LGI1 patients
Registration is open. If you are 12 years+ with a diagnosis of anti-NMDAr AE, or 18 years+ with a diagnosis of LGI1 AE and symptoms began less than 9 months ago, you may qualify for this rare clinical trial. 10 countries currently participating. A clinical trial doctor with top expertise in AE will oversee your care. Rescue care/standard AE care is given to placebo patients.
The trial aims to show Satralizumab is safe and effective for the treatment of Autoimmune Encephalitis and become FDA-approved. Your participation will improve the lives of all future patients. Help us reach the best outcomes for all. Ask your doctor about this trial.
The ExTINGUISH Trial
This is the first-ever Clinical Trial for a promising new drug, Inebilizumab, to treat anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, and will be funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
This trial is actively recruiting. International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society is honored to be supporting the ExTINGUISH trial along with Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance and The anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Foundation.
Main Inclusion Criteria (in part)
Enrollment is limited to 116 newly diagnosed patients with a confirmed diagnosis of anti-NMDAR Encephalitis who are 18 years or older. Patients must have received at least 3 days of methylprednisolone 1000 mg IV or equivalent corticosteroid within 30 days prior to randomization (Day 1). In addition, patients must have received EITHER of the following treatments within 30 days before randomization.
- IVIg, at a minimum dose of 2 g/kg
- Plasma exchange or plasmapheresis, with a minimum of 5 treatments. NOTE: These treatments may be provided during the screening period, but must be completed prior to randomization.
mRS of ≥3 at the screening visit, indicating at least moderate disability. Ability and willingness to attend study visits and complete the study.
The IGNITE Study
Drs. Emmanuel Mignot and Sergio Muñiz-Castrillo and their research group at Stanford University in California have requested IAES’s help in recruiting autoimmune encephalitis patients for The IGNITE study. This study aims to investigate the genetic predisposition to autoimmune encephalitis and related disorders. Patients must have an identified antibody to participate. The patient may have an active case or be in remission. This exciting study includes patients of all ages and all antibodies. Patients outside of the United States will need the physician who diagnosed them, usually a neurologist, to contact Dr. Muñiz-Castrillo directly. No travel is involved. Saliva and blood kits will be sent to you in the mail and can be returned by mail or dropped off at named participating pharmacies.
Your participation will help uncover that answer and your act of advocacy will eventually enhance lives! The first step to take is to fill out and submit the screening survey below.
Seronegative/antibody-negative patients can play an active advocacy role by distributing the IGNITE study flyer to their diagnosing doctor, and asking that it be posted at the infusion center you use, as well as hospitals and clinics you visit.
Sharing the flyer on your social media platforms will assist us in getting the highest level of participation possible.
AE Trivia Playing Cards
The perfect companion for patients, caregivers & therapists
Doctor Recommended
We appreciate the National Organization of Rare Diseases’ (NORD) enthusiastic support in recommending this groundbreaking product.
AE Warrior Store
Shop for AE Bling and Raise Awareness
The Brain On Fire design was created by IAES founder, Tabitha Andrews Orth and is copyrighted by the International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES). The design names many of the most common symptoms experienced in Autoimmune Encephalitis and where in the brain that symptom is controlled. Spread awareness for Autoimmune Encephalitis. The phrase, “Brain on Fire” references a best-selling book written by Susanah Cahalan who has given permission for IAES to use the phrase for this collection.
AE Warrior Store products proclaim the bravery and fighting spirit it takes to fight AE and regain your health. Shirts, hoodies, hats, puzzles, mugs, and gift items make this your one-stop shop for patients, caregivers, and friends who have a vested interest in raising awareness for Autoimmune Encephalitis. Designs can be transferred to any product you prefer. The proceeds of your purchase will immediately support Autoimmune Encephalitis patients, caregivers, and families who are walking this difficult journey.
IAES holds the trademark for #AEWarrior, AE Warrior, and Autoimmune Encephalitis Warrior and is the creator of these phrases. Proceeds also go to support research that may one day lead to a cure.
Don’t forget to #GiveAtCheckOut if you purchase your gift through PayPal! (See: Shop and Support IAES Through PayPal’s #GiveAtCheckOut program below).
The proceeds of your purchase will immediately support Autoimmune Encephalitis patients, caregivers, and families who are walking this difficult journey. Proceeds also go to support research that may one day lead to a cure.
Shop & Support IAES Through PayPal’s
#GiveATCheckOut
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Are YOU an IAES angel? Do you love someone with AE? Do you want to raise AE awareness to not just support AE Warriors but lead researchers to finding a cure? The IAES Angel is someone who lifted IAES upward by ensuring that comfort, guidance and improved health is brought into an AE patient’s life.
IAES Angels are motivated by their Spirit of giving. They are Champions in raising AE awareness. Your devotion to supporting our mission and improving the lives of those who suffer from AE is felt mightily and immediately put to use.
When you become an #IAESANGEL, International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society will send you this badge and profile frame to place on your Facebook page or Website. As badges ‘take flight’ heralding IAES has been ‘touched by an angel’, others will take notice and they too may find their wings. Together, we will create a future where AE is eradicated from this world and only referenced in medical history books.
Donations raised are greatly appreciated and directly support research, patients, caregivers, and families through their journey so the best outcomes can be reached. Your contribution to our mission will help save a life and improve the quality of lives for others. Be a part of the solution by supporting IAES.
Driven by the knowledge that “Education is Power”, Int’l AE Society manages an educational support group for patients diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis and their loved ones on Face Book, empowering them to be strong self-advocates and advocates that will lead them to best outcomes and recovery. We are the premiere organization leading in these vital roles.
On June 16th, 2022, the International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society and Tabitha Orth, IAES President, and Founder, officially became the 7,315th “point of light”. The award was founded by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.
