MOG antibody disease preferentially causes inflammation in the optic nerve,¹⁴ but can also cause inflammation in the spinal cord, brain, and brainstem.¹⁵ The recent diagnostic criteria for MOG antibody disease include the following clinical inflammatory attacks:⁴

• Optic neuritis (inflammation in the optic nerve), which results in vision loss in one or both eyes (often both eyes in MOGAD)
• Transverse myelitis (inflammation in the spinal cord), which often causes arm or leg weakness, changes in how things feel, and bowel, bladder, or sexual issues
• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, often in children), which can result in seizures, changes in behavior, mood, or thinking, and changes or loss of function in certain areas of the body
• Cerebral monofocal or polyfocal deficits (inflammation in one or more areas of the brain), which can cause different symptoms such as vision problems, difficulty speaking, changes in how things feel, balance problems, and weakness in the face, arms, or legs
• Brainstem or cerebellar deficits (inflammation in the back or bottom of the brain), which often includes double vision or issues with balance and coordination
• Cerebral cortical encephalitis (inflammation in the outer layer of the brain), which often causes seizures, changes in thinking or behavior, stroke-like episodes, headache, or fever

MOG antibody disease can also rarely occur in relation to another condition called anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis.¹ NMDA receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis that can cause psychosis, issues with memory and language, and seizures.¹