Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD)

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is an autoimmune condition where your immune system (antibodies) mistakenly attacks parts of your central nervous system. MOG is part of the protective cover that surrounds nerves (myelin) in your brain, spinal cord and eyes (optic nerves).

Your immune system protects your body from things that cause illness like viruses and bacteria. Sometimes, the antibodies in your immune system don’t get the right instructions to do their job. When this happens, your immune system confuses a healthy part of your body as a threat. This creates inflammation.

An attack on myelin is known as demyelination. When antibodies damage myelin, they affect the messages (nerve signals) that pass from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body.

Common symptoms of MOGAD include vision loss, muscle weakness and loss of coordination. You may hear your provider refer to these symptoms as optic neuritis, transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

What are the types of MOGAD?

The two main types of MOGAD include:

• Monophasic MOGAD: You only experience an attack of symptoms once.
• Relapsing MOGAD: Symptoms go away for a period of time (remission) before coming back (relapse).

Is MOGAD a rare disease?

MOGAD is a relatively rare demyelinating disorder. As awareness increases, healthcare providers expect numbers to increase. It affects an estimated 1 to 3 people per million each year.