Duolingo-induced seizures in GAD65 IgG associated autoimmune epilepsy

Autoimmune etiologies of seizures have been increasingly recognized with the discovery of novel autoantibodies to cell surface and intracellular antigens. GAD65 neurologic autoimmunity has been associated with stiff person syndrome, cerebellar ataxia, and chronic focal epilepsy, usually of temporal regional origin. While musicogenic reflex seizures have been described in multiple GAD65 IgG seropositive patients, non-musicogenic acoustic reflex seizures have not been described. We present a case of a patient with GAD65 antibody associated epilepsy with a long-standing history of right temporal seizures who developed left temporal reflex seizures triggered by a specific character and language while using the language learning app, Duolingo™.

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Publication Details

Journal
Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
Published
2026-01-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebr.2026.100848
Primary Topic
Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments
Type
article
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article

Duolingo-induced seizures in GAD65 IgG associated autoimmune epilepsy

Jamie J. Van Gompel, Jeffrey W. Britton, Reece Hass, Divyanshu Dubey et al.
Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments
article

Duolingo-induced seizures in GAD65 IgG associated autoimmune epilepsy

Jamie J. Van Gompel, Jeffrey W. Britton, Reece Hass, Divyanshu Dubey, Kelsey M. Smith
article en

Abstract

Autoimmune etiologies of seizures have been increasingly recognized with the discovery of novel autoantibodies to cell surface and intracellular antigens. GAD65 neurologic autoimmunity has been associated with stiff person syndrome, cerebellar ataxia, and chronic focal epilepsy, usually of temporal regional origin. While musicogenic reflex seizures have been described in multiple GAD65 IgG seropositive patients, non-musicogenic acoustic reflex seizures have not been described. We present a case of a patient with GAD65 antibody associated epilepsy with a long-standing history of right temporal seizures who developed left temporal reflex seizures triggered by a specific character and language while using the language learning app, Duolingo™.

Epilepsy & Behavior ReportsVol. 33
Mayo Clinic (US), WinnMed (US), Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 84%
Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments
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