Our Ambassadors

Alecia Emerson-Thomas

Alecia is a former police officer, media risk personality and security risk consultant whose son fell ill with encephalitis as a three year-old Read more

Aliki Chrysochou

Soprano singer Aliki inspired us with her amazing recovery from encephalitis and her journey to the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent Read more

Charlotte Leeming

Charlotte is a presenter and reporter with BBC Look North whose daughter was affected by encephalitis Read more

Mathew Bose

Actor Mathew became an Ambassador in 2007 after a close friend of his was affected by Herpes Simplex Encephalitis. Read more

Rebecca Adlington

Rebecca came to prominence at the Beijing Olympics when she won two gold medals in the swimming pool and later became an Ambassador as her sister, Laura, fell ill with encephalitis in 2005 Read more

Simon Hattenstone

Simon is a Features Writer with The Guardian newspaper and who has authored a book about his personal experiences of encephalitis as a boy Read more

Susannah Cahalan

Susannah is a New York journalist and the best-selling author of Brain on Fire which recounts her battle with Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Read more

Tonia Buxton

Tonia is a presenter, author, columnist, foodie and beauty expert who was introduced to the Encephalitis Society by her friends, Rebecca Adlington and Mathew Bose. Read more

Latest

Royal award for Professor Peter Kennedy

Professor Peter Kennedy honoured with RSE Royal Medal, awarded on the authority of Her Majesty The Queen

Childhood psychological adjustment following parental brain injury: the role of loss, trauma and parental grief

Seed funding Columbia University, USA

Awarded in 2020, this study will elucidate possible routes of CNS infection by the virus and identify brain regions and cell types most vulnerable to either direct infection or the effects of systemic cytokines.

SEED FUNDING Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA

Awarded in 2020, this pilot study aims to dissect the mechanisms through which subsets of neurons, specifically dopamine neurons, are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection

NMDAR antibody encephalitis

NMDAR antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune disease that causes psychiatric features, confusion, memory loss and seizures followed by a movement disorder, loss of consciousness and changes in blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.

Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis

Herpes simplex encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis which happens when herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the brain. Usually, it begins with ‘flu-like’ symptoms followed by neurological deterioration, which may include personality and behavioural changes, seizures, weakness and difficulties in communication.

What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by an infection or through the immune system attacking the brain in error.

West Nile encephalitis

West Nile encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis caused by West Nile virus. People usually become infected after being bitten by a mosquito, which has fed on an infected bird.

Guidelines for recovery

No two people with encephalitis have the same outcomes. People recover at different paces. Recovery can be helped by having lots of rest, good nutrition, helpful social network and support from professionals.

Limbic encephalitis

The term ‘limbic encephalitis’ (LE) describes the condition when limbic areas of the brain are inflamed (swollen) and consequently not functioning properly. Most forms of LE fall into two main categories: infectious encephalitis and autoimmune encephalitis.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is an infectious encephalitis caused by Japanese encephalitis virus transmitted by mosquitoes, called ‘Culex’ mosquitoes.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy

Hashimoto's encephalopathy is a rare condition, which is probably of autoimmune origin. The concept of HE is becoming fragmented into a number of other types of autoimmune encephalitis which appear to have their own autoantibodies, prognosis and associated features.

Death from encephalitis

Encephalitis is a serious neurological condition and unfortunately, despite improvements in specific and more supportive treatments such as excellent intensive care management, encephalitis still has a high mortality (death) rate.

Measles infection and encephalitis

Measles causes encephalitis in children with measles infection. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a very effective way to prevent against these diseases.