Cognitive dysfunction associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoimmunity: A case-control study

Masahito Takagi, Yasushi Ishigaki, Kenji Uno, Shojiro Sawada, Junta Imai, Keizo Kaneko, Yutaka Hasegawa, Tetsuya Yamada, Ai Tokita, Kazumi Iseki, Shigenori Kanno, Yoshiyuki Nishio, Hideki Katagiri, Etsuro Mori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Anti-GAD antibodies (GADA) are associated with the progression of stiff person syndrome and other neurological diseases, as well as the immune-mediated (type 1) diabetes. GABA is one of the most widely distributed neurotransmitters, but the non-motor symptoms of GADA-positive patients are not well understood. Diabetes is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for dementia; however, the relationship between diabetes and dementia is controversial.The objective of this study was to assess cognitive function in patients with GADA-positive diabetes using subjects with GADA-negative type 2 diabetes as controls.Methods: Twenty-one patients with GADA-positive diabetes (mean age 52.5 ± 12.3 years, mean duration 7.7 ± 6.6 years) and 19 control subjects with GADA-negative type 2 diabetes (mean age 53.4 ± 8.9 years, mean duration 12.5 ± 6.7) were included in the study. The subjects underwent extensive neuropsychological testing and brain MRI.Results: The neuropsychological test scores were lower in the GADA-positive group than the control group (GADA-negative). Twelve subjects (57%) in the GADA group and 4 subjects (21%) in the control group had low performances (p = 0.027). No statistically significant differences were found between the GADA and control groups regarding demographics, diabetic severity cardiovascular risks, cerebral T2 hyperintensities, white matter volume and gray matter volume.Conclusions: Our study showed that GADA-positive diabetic patients have an increased risk of cognitive decline compared to patients with type 2 diabetes of comparable diabetic severity. It also showed that GADA may be associated with isolated cognitive decline in the absence of other neurological complications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number76
JournalBMC Neurology
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Jul 9

Keywords

  • Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • GABAergic neural system
  • Stiff-person syndrome
  • Voxel-based morphometry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cognitive dysfunction associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoimmunity: A case-control study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this