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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
07:20
A Simple Cell-based Immunofluorescence Assay to Detect Autoantibody Against the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate NMDA Receptor in Blood
Published on: January 9, 2018
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Memory Deficits in Cancer Patients With Serum NMDA Receptor Autoantibodies.
Frederik Bartels1,2,3,4, Andreea Tapuc3,5, Kristin Rentzsch6
1Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
Neurology
|December 26, 2025
Summary
Serum N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) autoantibodies are linked to memory deficits in cancer patients. These findings suggest NMDAR autoantibodies may be a biomarker for cancer-related cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Oncology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Neuronal autoantibodies, particularly IgA/IgM N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) autoantibodies, are common in cancer patients.
- The clinical significance of these autoantibodies for cognitive function in cancer remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cognitive function in cancer patients with serum NMDAR autoantibodies.
- To compare cognitive performance between autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional case-control study involving 1,055 cancer patients in Germany.
- Cognitive assessments included verbal memory, visuospatial memory, and working memory, performed blinded to antibody status.
- Patients with confounding factors for cognitive dysfunction were excluded.
Main Results:
- Fifty-six patients with IgA/IgM NMDAR autoantibodies showed significant impairments in verbal memory, visuospatial memory, and working memory compared to matched controls.
- Memory function decline correlated with increasing IgA NMDAR autoantibody levels.
- No significant differences were observed in attention, executive function, or verbal fluency between groups.
Conclusions:
- Serum NMDAR autoantibodies are associated with isolated memory deficits in cancer patients.
- These autoantibodies may serve as a potential biomarker for identifying cancer-related cognitive impairment.
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