James Josh Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 01, 2025 46 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists have reported a troubling medical case that raises new concerns about how COVID-19 vaccines might trigger rare autoimmune reactions in certain individuals. In findings documented by researchers from Damascus University and the Department of Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, a 67-year-old man developed progressive tremors and Parkinson-like symptoms shortly after receiving his Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and booster.
Rare autoimmune encephalitis after COVID vaccination led to Parkinson-like symptoms in a newly reported patient case
This
Medical News report highlights how the man was eventually diagnosed with LGI1 antibody encephalitis, an uncommon autoimmune brain disorder already known for causing cognitive problems, seizures, and dangerous drops in sodium levels. What makes this case extraordinary is that it is the first documented instance where LGI1 encephalitis appeared to lead directly to parkinsonism following COVID-19 vaccination.
A Rare Autoimmune Disorder Triggered After Vaccination
LGI1 encephalitis is most common in men over 40 and usually causes issues such as confusion, memory loss, involuntary spasms, and hyponatremia. The patient in this case had no prior neurological history. About one week after his first Moderna dose, he developed tremors in his left hand and mouth. These symptoms intensified after the booster shot, eventually interfering with daily activities.
Doctors noted classic signs of parkinsonism including resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and reduced facial expression. Because MRI scans were not possible, SPECT/CT imaging was performed and showed reduced activity in both putamina, a pattern strongly associated with parkinsonism. Blood work later confirmed the presence of LGI1 antibodies, pointing to autoimmune encephalitis as the underlying cause.
How LGI1 Encephalitis Can Mimic Parkinsons Disease
Although rare, up to 11 percent of LGI1 encephalitis patients may display Parkinson-like symptoms. Scientists believe this occurs when the immune system mistakenly disrupts the basal ganglia, an area responsible for controlling movement. This disruption interferes with normal dopamine signaling, producing tremors and stiffness similar to Parkinson’s disease.
The researchers also noted that autoimmune encephalitis has been documented after both COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 vaccination. Antibodies targeting brain proteins such as NMDAR, GAD, and MOG have been seen in such cases. LGI1 and CASPR-2, part of the potassium channel complex, appear particularly sensitive to immune system misfires triggered by viral exposure or vaccination in genetically predisposed individuals.
Growing Evidence from Medical Literature
Several earlier studies have documented LGI1 patients with slow movements, falls, and gait problems resembling Parkinson’s disease. Another report described severe dyskinesia shortly after COVID-19 vaccination. However, none previously demonstrated the slower, pro
gressive form of parkinsonism seen in this patient immediately following serial vaccination.
The man declined steroid treatment but began medication for tremors alongside physical therapy. Doctors emphasized that early recognition is crucial because many patients respond well to immunotherapy, especially when identified before symptoms worsen.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that in very rare cases, COVID-19 vaccination could act as an environmental trigger for autoimmune LGI1 encephalitis, which may then develop into parkinsonism. While vaccinations remain overwhelmingly safe, this case demonstrates why unusual neurological symptoms following vaccination should prompt thorough evaluation for autoimmune causes, especially in older adults. Greater awareness among clinicians may help ensure earlier diagnosis and better patient outcomes, while ongoing research continues to clarify how immune responses to vaccination may occasionally misfire.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Oxford Medical Case Reports.
https://academic.oup.com/omcr/article/2025/11/omaf236/8343272
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