CSB Paper of the Month 01/2026: Memory deficits in cancer patients with NMDA receptor autoantibodies
A study from the Department of Neurology and the Center for Stroke Research Berlin (CSB) (Bartels F, Tapuc A, Rentzsch K, Duong SL, Prüss H, Finke C) shows that certain serum autoantibodies against the NMDA receptor (IgA/IgM) in cancer patients are associated with clear memory deficits, while other cognitive functions such as attention and executive functions remain largely intact.
The Center for Stroke Research Berlin (CSB) has selected this study as its Paper of the Month for January 2026. ECN members Prof. Harald Prüss and Prof. Christoph Finke contributed to this work.
These findings suggest that NMDA receptor autoantibodies may contribute to cancer‑related cognitive impairment and could serve as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target in the future.
Original Publication: Bartels F, Tapuc A, Rentzsch K, Duong SL, Prüss H, Finke C. Memory deficits in cancer patients with NMDA receptor autoantibodies. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214490
Source: CSB Paper of the Month