Department of Research & Evaluation News

People newly diagnosed with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, or MOGAD, generally had a low risk of relapse and lasting disability, according to a Kaiser Permanente study.

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Southern California followed 69 children and adults diagnosed at their first MOGAD attack and found that more than 80% fully recovered, while just under 12% experienced a relapse during a median follow-up of about 32 months. MOGAD is a rare inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves and cause severe neurological symptoms.

The study was published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal in November 2026.

The findings provide a more reassuring picture of MOGAD than previous research, which has often estimated that 40% to 50% of patients experience a relapse. In the new study, 57 of 69 patients fully recovered, only eight experienced another attack, and three were left with moderate-to-severe lasting deficits. The low relapse rate occurred even though relatively few patients received preventive immunotherapy or prolonged corticosteroid treatment.

“The diagnosis of MOGAD can be frightening because the first attack can cause serious neurological symptoms,” said lead author Annette M. Langer-Gould, MD, PhD. “One of the biggest questions after a first MOGAD attack is what the future will look like for that patient.”

“Our findings suggest that for most patients, the outlook is encouraging, with a high likelihood of full recovery and a relatively low risk of another attack,” said Dr. Langer-Gould, a practicing neuroimmunologist at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center and renowned epidemiologist and researcher.

MOGAD has only recently been recognized as a distinct neurological disease. Previous estimates of relapse risk often came from specialized referral centers that may have disproportionately included people with recurrent or more severe disease. The new study instead examined a contemporary, population-based group of Kaiser Permanente Southern California patients starting with their first recognized attack, providing a clearer picture of recovery and recurrence after an initial diagnosis. Researchers said larger studies are still needed to identify which patients are at greater risk of relapse and to determine the optimal length of treatment in the people with MOGAD who do experience a subsequent relapse.

In addition to Dr. Langer-Gould, other authors on the research include Jason N. Scott of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine; Jessica B. Smith of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation; and Fernando Torres of the School of Medicine and the Los Angeles Medical Center. Dr. Langer-Gould is also affiliated with the School of Medicine.