Human study · Aging · 10 Nov 2026
In 261 people with suspected rapidly progressive dementia, Graus criteria for possible autoimmune encephalitis were 89 percent sensitive and 96 percent specific
Source: Neurology
What the research found
Neurology published an observational cohort online on 10 November 2026. Adults 18 and older with suspected rapidly progressive dementia were enrolled at two referral centers, Washington University in St. Louis and Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, from 2016 to 2024. 261 people were included. Mean age was 61.1 years. 46 percent were female. 83 percent were non-Hispanic White. 74 of 261 (28 percent) had autoimmune encephalitis by consensus review. Against that review, the Graus criteria for possible autoimmune encephalitis had 89 percent sensitivity, 96 percent specificity, and 94 percent accuracy. Two people with autoimmune encephalitis died within 3 months of symptom onset. Cognitive impairment was still present after 3 months in 47 of 72 surviving people with autoimmune encephalitis. Print issue date is listed as 8 December 2026. The abstract does not give a standard deviation for age. DOI 10.1212/WNL.0000000000218783. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
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