Link Between Neuron Damage and Cognitive Issues in Lupus
⚠️ Pregnancy-related topic: Decisions about medications, diet, or tests during pregnancy must be made with your obstetrician and neurology team.
Summary
Researchers conducted a study to explore the connection between cognitive dysfunction and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study took place at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital and included 81 SLE patients aged 18 to 55 years. Participants were carefully selected to exclude those with other neurological or psychiatric conditions that could affect cognitive function.
The main finding of the study was that patients with cognitive dysfunction had higher levels of serum NSE compared to those with normal cognitive function. Specifically, the median NSE level was 14.0 ng/mL in those with cognitive issues, compared to 12.7 ng/mL in those without. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between NSE levels and cognitive scores, meaning that higher NSE levels were linked to lower scores on cognitive tests, particularly in areas related to executive function.
This research is important because it suggests that elevated NSE levels may indicate cognitive impairment in SLE patients, which could help identify those at risk. However, it is essential to note that this was a small, observational study, and more extensive research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the long-term implications for cognitive health in SLE patients.
