Steady with the steroids! Brain damage linked to cognitive dysfunction and steroid treatment in lupus patients
Researchers have discovered that brain microstructure damage in lupus patients is marked by cognitive dysfunction and related to steroid treatment.
Cognitive dysfunction, such as memory problems, are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and the autoimmune disease is particularly severe in Asian patients. A team from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (Singapore) investigated the mechanism behind cognitive dysfunction in lupus patients, utilizing a novel MRI technique to study the patients’ brains. Brain damage and cognitive dysfunction in the patients were related to steroid medication, suggesting that clinicians should be cautious when prescribing steroids.