MOG-antibody Disease: Common Thinking and Memory Issues

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Key Takeaway

People with MOG-antibody disease often have trouble with thinking speed and verbal memory, similar to other related immune brain disorders.

What They Found

Researchers tested thinking and memory in 21 adults with MOG-antibody disease and compared them to healthy people. Those with MOG-antibody disease did worse on tests that measure how fast you process information (like quickly matching symbols to numbers) and on verbal learning and memory (remembering lists of words). The study counted someone as having cognitive impairment if they scored much lower than the healthy group on at least one test; people with MOG-antibody disease had nearly double the chance of this compared with healthy people. The risk of cognitive problems in MOG-antibody disease was similar to the risk seen in two related conditions (AQP4-positive NMOSD and double-seronegative NMOSD). In short, MOG-antibody disease affects thinking speed and remembering words, and this pattern looks like other immune diseases that affect the brain and spinal cord.

Who Should Care and Why

People living with MOG-antibody disease and their caregivers should care because slower thinking and trouble remembering words can affect everyday tasks like following conversations, remembering appointments, or managing medications. Health care providers and therapists can use this information to watch for thinking problems early and offer support, such as memory strategies or tools (like lists, reminders, or phone alarms). Caregivers can help by simplifying information, repeating important points, and creating routines—similar to organizing a kitchen so you always put keys in the same place. Patients planning work, driving, or complex activities should be aware that processing speed may be slower and allow extra time or breaks. Knowing these risks can lead to earlier testing and rehabilitation, which may make daily life easier and safer.

Important Considerations

This study was small (only 21 people with MOG-antibody disease), so results might change with more patients studied. The tests used catch some kinds of thinking problems (speed and word memory) but not every possible problem, so a normal score doesn't rule out other issues. Because this is an observational study, it shows a link but can't prove the disease causes the thinking problems in every person.

Categories:

Specific Symptoms MS Diagnostics Living with MS

Article Topics:

Brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests (BRB-N)Cognitive functionMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD)Symbol digit modalities test (SDMT)

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