News
Largest-ever review calls for integrated mental health care after encephalitis
30 June 2026
Largest-ever review calls for integrated mental health care after encephalitis A major paper identifying mental health consequences of encephalitis has been published by researchers including members of Encephalitis International’s Scientific Advisory Panel (see below for further information), and its CEO Dr Ava Easton MBE. Background While advances in diagnosing and managing encephalitis in the clinic have reduced […]
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Psychology Today - The Two Sides of Music Therapy (June 2026)
29 June 2026
The Two Sides of Music Therapy Music healing is historic yet its role in brain rehabilitation is evolving. Visit Psychology Today to read the article by Encephalitis International’s Prav Prathapan on how neurological and social consequences of a brain injury can be addressed with music therapy. “Caring for someone with a brain injury is far […]
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Refractory, Intensive Care-Dependent NMDAR encephalitis
29 June 2026
Refractory, Intensive Care-Dependent NMDAR encephalitis By Annabel Wallace, Encephalitis International Team Volunteer Background N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDARE) is an autoimmune disease in which patient’s immune systems generate antibodies against the NMDAR protein expressed in the brain, resulting in severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. Since NMDARE was first identified in 2007, research has been devoted to understanding the […]
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Encephalitis Seminar published in The Lancet
22 June 2026
Encephalitis Seminar published in The Lancet A landmark ‘Seminar’ paper on encephalitis has been published in The Lancet by members of Encephalitis International’s Scientific Advisory Panel (see below for further information), including CEO Dr Ava Easton MBE. Introduction Encephalitis is a global emergency that kills an estimated 100,000 people every year and leaves many survivors […]
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Stem cell therapy for refractory epilepsy
5 June 2026
Stem cell therapy for refractory epilepsy By Dr Steven White, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cromwell Hospital, London Epilepsy is one of the commonest serious neurological disorders, estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to affect around 50 million people worldwide. While many will respond well to medication, around 30% will continue to have poorly controlled seizures despite […]
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Chicago, Conversations, and the Power of Connection
4 June 2026
Chicago, Conversations, and the Power of Connection By Dr Ava Easton MBE There is something about American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting that feels both energising and grounding in equal measure. Perhaps it is the sheer scale of it – thousands of neurologists, researchers, clinicians, and industry partners gathered under one roof – or perhaps […]
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What should HCPs know to support wellbeing after encephalitis?
15 May 2026
What should health care professionals know to support wellbeing after encephalitis? By Dr Andrea Kusec, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford Researchers at the University of Oxford, led by Dr Andrea Kusec, have developed a new training programme for healthcare professionals to better understand and support psychological effects of brain injury, including those […]
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Psychology Today - Finding Connection and Confidence After Brain Injury (May 2026)
13 May 2026
Navigating life after a brain injury, such as encephalitis, carries unknowns and uncertainties for those affected as well as their family and friends. Visit Psychology Today to read the article by Encephalitis International’s Emma Collins on how peer support and community groups can rebuild confidence and well-being. “… I found it very hard. I was […]
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Pinpointing NMDAR-antibody encephalitis
23 April 2026
Pinpointing NMDAR-antibody encephalitis A study has mapped, at near-atomic resolution, the antibody interaction in NMDAR-antibody encephalitis, opening the door for the first rationally designed treatments. Introduction NMDAR-antibody encephalitis is a form of autoimmune encephalitis where antibodies bind the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors in the brain, which control thoughts, mood, and movements. The condition was first identified […]
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The DexEnceph Study: A 20-Year Odyssey
17 April 2026
The DexEnceph Study: A 20-Year Odyssey By Professor Tom Solomon CBE FRCP FMedSci, DexEnceph Chief Investigator; Director, The Pandemic Institute, Liverpool; President, Encephalitis International. In 2006, Twitter had just launched, Pluto was downgraded from a planet to a dwarf planet, and Top of the Pops came to an end. At a small meeting in London of the […]
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Eine Rezension von „Ratgeber Autoimmune Enzephalitis“
7 April 2026
März 2026 Ana Medina, Freiwillige bei Encephalitis International In den vergangenen Wochen war ich ganz in den „Ratgeber Autoimmune Enzephalitis“ vertieft – ein umfassender Leitfaden zur autoimmunen Enzephalitis, herausgegeben von Professor Markus Krämer und Professor Frank Leypoldt, beide angesehene Mediziner an verschiedenen deutschen Kliniken. Das Buch ist ein Gemeinschaftswerk und wurde 2025 veröffentlicht. Die Kapitel […]
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From Honour to Celebration: My MBE Journey
25 March 2026
From Honour to Celebration: My MBE Journey By Dr Ava Easton MBE. There are moments in life that feel quietly surreal—ones you try to take in fully, knowing they will stay with you forever. Receiving an MBE In the King’s New Years Honours List was one of those moments! But it wasn’t just about the […]
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Tick Bite Prevention Week: Addressing An Evolving Threat
20 March 2026
Tick Bite Prevention Week: Addressing An Evolving Threat Tick Bite Prevention Week is a good reminder that the story of ticks has become more complicated, and that is exactly why prevention matters. Introduction: A complex picture Ticks are no longer just associated with a single illness or a single type of risk. Today, the public […]
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Psychology Today - The Inflamed Brain (March 2026)
4 March 2026
Misdiagnosed, Dismissed, and Running Out of Time The reality of autoimmune encephalitis Patients with autoimmune encephalitis often first present to psychiatry or other services because symptoms mimic common conditions. Awareness must be balanced with careful testing to avoid harmful over-diagnosis and mistreatment. Visit Misdiagnosed, Dismissed, and Running Out of Time to read the article by […]
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Seeking reliable health information in an ‘infodemic’ – navigating misinformation in a digital world
27 February 2026
Key points Online resources have increased ways to access to health information, but all sources of information need to be considered carefully. Trusted sources exist and can be identified in various ways such as accreditation. AI (artificial intelligence) is a possible springboard to other information sources but must be approached with caution and should never […]
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Caregivers’ perspectives on outcomes in anti-NMDAR encephalitis
27 February 2026
Key Points: A multicentre study assessed the experiences of caregivers of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis patients, with an emphasis on long-term psychological distress, social challenges, and difficulties navigating healthcare systems. The researchers, including Encephalitis International’s CEO Dr Ava Easton MBE, qualitatively evaluated a broad range of challenges, including the difficulties obtaining the proper diagnosis, the […]
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ENCEPHALITIS INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES F.L.A.M.E.S
12 February 2026
A life‑saving awareness initiative — led by our community F.L.A.M.E.S reflects the urgent neurological signs that the general public and non-specialist acute medics should be aware of to help recognise encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) earlier. F.L.A.M.E.S stands for Flu-like Symptoms, Loss of Consciousness, Acute Headache, Memory Problems, Emotional/Behavioural Changes, Seizures. These are the symptoms most commonly […]
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Encephalitis Conference 2025 Bursary Report
10 February 2026
Encephalitis 2025 Conference Last year we were delighted to welcome to Encephalitis Conference three bursary recipients. Read below their feedback and future plans. Isabela Bettu Bini, Brazil “Attending the Conference was an extremely valuable experience, both academically and professionally. As a Brazilian medical student with a strong interest in neurology and infectious diseases, the event […]
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Can Early Tests Help Predict Recovery After Infectious Encephalitis?
2 February 2026
Infectious encephalitis is a serious condition that can lead to long-term neurological problems or death. One of the biggest challenges for clinicians is knowing, early on, who is most at risk of a poor outcome. A new systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers from the United Kingdom, including CEO of Encephalitis International Dr. Ava Easton […]
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Encephalitis International Participates in Amazon Web Services’ Breaking Barriers Challenge
20 January 2026
Last week, Encephalitis International was thrilled to take part in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Breaking Barriers Challenge 2026 in Manchester, an inspiring three-day event that brought together non-profits, technologists, students, and industry experts to tackle real-world problems using cloud-based technology and AI. For Encephalitis International, the opportunity to collaborate in such an innovative environment […]
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New research on distinguishing NMDAR-antibody encephalitis
19 January 2026
Researchers including members of Encephalitis International’s Scientific Advisory Panel have shed new light in diagnosing NMDAR-antibody encephalitis. Their findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, reveal that NMDAR-antibody encephalitis has a distinctive, rapidly evolving psychiatric signature. What is NMDAR-antibody encephalitis? NMDAR-antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune condition in which antibodies attack NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors in the brain. […]
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Varicella zoster (Chickenpox) vaccines for children start across UK
6 January 2026
Introduction The UK government has announced that children across England will now, for the first time, be offered a free vaccine against varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus (VZV) on the NHS. Encephalitis International is highlighting the importance of protecting against not only chickenpox itself, but also the potentially devastating complication – encephalitis or swelling of the […]
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Encephalitis International Wishes Ambassador George Clarke Good Luck for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Grand Final!
20 November 2025
George is in the Grand Final of Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday (20/12/2025). It is the biggest night in the ballroom! Our votes matter more than ever this week, so please vote for George and Alexis and let’s all hope that he raises the glitterball!! Shimmy over to the BBC website to cast your votes […]
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Major breakthrough in our understanding of tick-borne virus encephalitis
6 November 2025
In a landmark study, scientists have unearthed a mechanism by which a dangerous virus enters brain cells to cause encephalitis. Introduction Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) has been spreading in Europe and Asia in recent years, causing life-threatening encephalitis. A new study by an international team of researchers has identified a key protein that the virus […]
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