The present disclosure provides a method of preventing or treating anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis in a subject in need thereof, including administering to the subject an effective amount of benzoic acid or a salt and derivative thereof.本揭露內容提供一種預防或治療有此需求的個體的抗N-甲基-D-天冬胺酸受體腦炎的方法,包括向該個體投予有效量的苯甲酸鹽及其衍生物。