Limbic encephalitis
Encyclopedia
Limbic encephalitis is a form of encephalitis
.
In a small number of cases, the pathogens responsible for encephalitis attack primarily the limbic system
(a collection of structures at the base of the brain responsible for emotions and many other basic functions), often causing memory deficits similar to those observed in Alzheimer's disease
or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
(although limbic encephalitis does not cause the same cognitive deficits as these diseases. However, for 20% of people with the diagnosis of limbic encephalitis an MRI will not show any neurological abnormalities
60% of the time, limbic encephalitis is paraneoplastic in origin.
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a particularly severe form of limbic encephalitis caused by neoplasms most commonly associated with small cell lung carcinoma. Whereas the majority of encephalitides are viral
in nature, PLE is often associated with cancer
. In fact, it is thought that up to 1 in 100 people with cancer have paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis which is commonly misdiagnosed as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue...
.
In a small number of cases, the pathogens responsible for encephalitis attack primarily the limbic system
Limbic system
The limbic system is a set of brain structures including the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior thalamic nuclei, septum, limbic cortex and fornix, which seemingly support a variety of functions including emotion, behavior, long term memory, and olfaction. The term "limbic" comes from the Latin...
(a collection of structures at the base of the brain responsible for emotions and many other basic functions), often causing memory deficits similar to those observed in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease or CJD is a degenerative neurological disorder that is incurable and invariably fatal. CJD is at times called a human form of mad cow disease, given that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is believed to be the cause of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans.CJD...
(although limbic encephalitis does not cause the same cognitive deficits as these diseases. However, for 20% of people with the diagnosis of limbic encephalitis an MRI will not show any neurological abnormalities
60% of the time, limbic encephalitis is paraneoplastic in origin.
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a particularly severe form of limbic encephalitis caused by neoplasms most commonly associated with small cell lung carcinoma. Whereas the majority of encephalitides are viral
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
in nature, PLE is often associated with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. In fact, it is thought that up to 1 in 100 people with cancer have paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis which is commonly misdiagnosed as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.